Favorite Things Friday - December 20

Good Reads
Calm The Duck Down from Matthew Paul Turner
Spectacular Abandoned Places Around The World from Distractify
Can You Really Take Great Photos With An iPhone? from Lightstalking

Carol Sing


Christmas Card


Prank


Commercial


Invention

We've Got Some Work To Do

At 2, Christmas is still all about the presents. At least he didn't leave Santa in the chimney and just take the sack of toys!

Kai's Craft From Daycare

Favorite Things Friday - December 6

Good Reads
Surviving "Christmas Shoes" from Jon Acuff
3 Career Investments Every Creative Should Be Making from Accidental Creative
Embracing The Tension Between Now & The Next Thing from Skip Prichard

Attacking A Stranger


Nap Time


Dogs In Boots


Playground Swing


Boxing Commercial

Who Cares About Your Family Tree

I'd always skip over the first 17 verses in Matthew when reading the Christmas story. To be honest, I thought it was dumb. Who cares about the family tree?

But if you look a little deeper, spend a some time looking at the names that are mentioned, you'll see something that further emphasizes the gospel message.

Something you miss when you skip over the passage.

Along with mentioning some giants of the faith, Matthew includes some unusual names.

Like Tamar.

Seriously, read the story of Tamar. Why would Matthew feels the need to include her name? Leave her out and
no one would notice.

Another name that is alluded to, but never mentioned, is Bathsheba. Matthew uses some curious phrasing when describing Solomon. "Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife."

OUCH!

Pour some salt on the wound while you're at it.

You see, when we write stories about our heroes we leave out the bad parts.
We don't mention the affairs
We don't mention the family who leaves because dad is 'married' to his ministry
We don't mention the second set of financial records
So why does Matthew deliberately mention a prostitute and adultery?

Because that's exactly who Jesus came for.

Matthew made a point, right from the start of the story, to make sure his audience knew Jesus came for the screw-ups, the sinners, the people who have messed up so badly they think there is no hope.

I used to skip over the first 17 verses in Matthew, but now I stop and reflect on the names. I'm reminded that the story of Christmas is not about Jesus coming to redeem the righteous, but rather those who know they are not.

Favourite Things Friday - Dec 21

Favorite Reads
This Is Beneath Your Dignity
If You Like It...
Why We Should Rest - Avoiding A Dust Bowl

Favorite Cat (a line I never thought I'd write)


Favorite Commercial Targeting Moms


Favorite Explanation Of Why We're Still Here

Favorite "Someone Is Getting Fired" Moment


Favorite Kid At A Christmas Musical

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of Year

It's that time of year again.

Time for Christians to start proclaiming...
the birth of Jesus,
the arrival of the awaited messiah,
hope and forgiveness,
the war on Christmas!

The freedom of speech/religion/choice that we enjoy in North America goes both ways. If we can post billboards proclaiming the arrival of Christ, why can't others post billboards celebrating Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Winter Solstice?

I'm pretty sure the wisemen didn't arrive to wish Jesus "Merry Christmas". Paul wrote most of the New Testament, and I doubt he and Barnabas/Silas ever had an ugly Christmas sweater party.

If you want to say "Happy Holidays" to me, that's cool. You want to write Season's Greetings on your storefront, be my guest.

I think it's time we stop focusing our energy on the "War On Christmas", and focus on spreading the message of hope and forgiveness, the real reason for the season.

Favourite Things Friday - Dec 14

Been a crazy week!

Favorite Reads
Sacred Cows in Church
Why Risk It Now
Leadership Qualities Found In Joseph

Favorite Public Service Announcement

Favorite Behind The Scenes


Favorite Christmas Production From A Church


Favorite Christmas Prank

Favorite New Christmas Song

12 Days

Not much action on the blog lately. I've been busy trying to secure some end of year donations and put together a special little number for the LIFE Christmas party this past weekend.

Here it is, the LIFE 100.3 version of the 12 Days Of Christmas

It Wouldn't Be Christmas...

...without some drama.

People who don't want to spend time with certain other people.

Wondering how a certain person will react to the planned Christmas festivities.

Hoping for good weather (and no motion sickness) as we spend lots of time in the car.

I used to think I was the only one who had to deal with these odd dynamics, but apparently I'm not alone. And despite the drama, barfing dog, "crawly feet", and quarantine, this Christmas was a good one. I got to spend time with family, shared some laughs, played some games and had a solid Christmas.

After 4 days off from work, it was tough to get up and come in to work today. Good thing it's a short week.

Christmas - More Than A Baby

The Christmas story is more than just a baby in a manger.

More than a virgin giving birth in a stable.

It's more than angels, shepherds, wisemen and a jealous king.

The Christmas story is the story of a God who wants to restore that which was broken.

A God that came to live among us.

A God who sent his son to die at the hands of those he came to save.

I think this video from a church near Atlanta tells it well.

Christmas Tree

This is our first Christmas in our new home, it's also the first Christmas that we can have a real tree! (The condo's fire code forbid any real trees.)

Last week we went down to the SPCA and bought ourselves a tree. With it being dark, and all the wrapping on it, it was difficult to tell what the tree actually looked like, but we thought we made a good choice.

Saturday we brought the tree in and started to decorate. I had to make a run out to the store (a couple stores actually) to pick up some more lights, but other than that slight hiccup, I think it went pretty well.

The tree is up and we're ready for Christmas!

T'is Better To Give

It's Christmas time.

A time of giving.

A time when people look to give some of their hard-earned money to a worthy cause.

I was in Mississauga at the One Hope Benefit Concert at my parents' church on the weekend. It was a production put on by the church, with 3 charities as the highlited causes to give to. All 3 causes are totally valid and deserving. (The production was phenomenal by the way)

For each of those causes, there are dozens of other charities doing something similar. Clean Water, Human Trafficking, Education for African Orphans... the list goes on. There are so many worthy causes you can give to at Christmas. There are so many options if you want to give this season. No matter what your passion, you can find a charity to give to.

But why does it have to stop after Christmas? Why not look for ways to give year-round? Yes, it's top of mind around Christmas time, but if you have a passion for the abolishing human trafficking why not support one of the many non-profits year-round?

It's great to give, and you should give to something this Christmas season. Salvation Army Kettles, the local Pregnancy Centre, or even LIFE 100.3. But why does the giving have to stop once January hits?

Maybe it's why I'm the fundraiser, but I love to give. Maybe God has blessed us, so that we can bless others? Just imagine what God could do (in and through us) if we adopted a generous attitude year-round?

Family Ties

This year Crystal and I are working through Rediscovering Christmas together.

Yesterday our assigned reading was Matthew 1. Normally I'd skip over the genealogy, because (to be honest) it's boring, and I can't pronounce half the names. This time I was doing it with someone else, so the pressure was on, I HAD to read it.

AND an amazing thing happened...

It spoke to me.

As I was reading through the list of names in Jesus' family tree, it struck me... His family was screwed up!

Not only did the verses tie Jesus back to David (fulfilling OT prophecy), it also listed some questionable characters along the way. Most of the names mean nothing to us in 2010, but when Matthew was writing this to the Jews these names carried a lot of meaning.

There are some spiritual superheros in there, David, Jacob, Ruth (a WOMAN!) and Solomon. There are also some sketchy characters listed. Liars, adulterers, murderers and back-stabbers. Tamar (not a Jew) was seduced by, and bore illegitimate twins with her father in-law. Rahab (not a Jew) was a prostitute.

Normally women aren't mentioned in these sorts of genealogies, so why did Matthew include them? Wouldn't it introduce doubt into the whole "messiah" debate? Why wouldn't God place his son into a more respectable family?

Maybe for the same reasons Jesus wasn't born in a palace. If you look at the big picture, it fits. Jesus came into the world to save those very people. He spent time with the "un-clean" people of society. All through the Bible, God uses the broken, the hopeless and the losers to accomplish his goals. Jesus came from the screwed up, to save the screwed up.

THAT is the good news of Christmas.

(At least for screw-ups like me)

Christmas Music

We've officially gone all Christmas music here at LIFE 100.3.

Somehow I got this reputation as Scrooge, saying I don't like Christmas music. That is untrue.

I like this Christmas music.

I also like this

and finally... this song.

So, let's get this straight.

I DO like Christmas music!

Christmas Wish List

We're just a few weeks away from Christmas and I should probably get out and start my shopping. I doubt my family has started their shopping either, because I haven't received the annual email: "what do you want?"

What do I want?

I don't really need anything.

I guess I want Inception or a hoodie, but I could probably do without either of those.

We need blinds for the house, some paint to throw on the white walls, some accents to make the house feels more like a home. But people don't buy you that stuff for Christmas.

Here's a can of paint son. Merry Christmas!

I think I'd rather give up my Christmas... kinda like this.

The story of charity: water - The 2009 September Campaign Trailer from charity: water on Vimeo.

Here I am asking for something totally unnecessary, while there are people that don't even have clean water.

Would you consider giving up your Christmas?

***You can read the incredible story of charity:water HERE***