Spreading Christmas Cheer...

A Random Attempt to Share Good News…


As I pushed my buggy down the ice cream aisle, I met a couple in their late 50’s with a small boy about 2 or 3 yrs tucked in the infant seat of their buggy. I love the Christmas season, and had been singing Christmas songs and making music to myself all day long. What else was I to do? You got it; I had an audience of three, adjacent to the freezers full of festive displays of celebratory foods…so…before I realized it, and quicker than they could escape, I began to sing to the little boy…“you better watch out, you better not pout, you better not cry, I’m telling you why…Santa Claus is coming to town.” Ok, he (like you, if you have ever heard me sing) wasn’t impressed, so I repeated my solo. This time, his scruffy older uncle and weary aunt, whom have raised their own flock but are now taking care of their feeble great nephew because he faces some health challenges of which his own family isn’t able to bear, began to sing with me.

In a few minutes the four of us were smiling, laughing, and the little guy was looking around hoping to spot a white beard in a red suit. The uncle and I traded a few stories, and I encouraged them with a genuine heart, realizing their obvious needs. Then, as we steered toward opposite ends of the aisle, and rolling back 15 years ago, I remembered each time Angela and I would see our three little miracles, Tyler (20), Nicholas (18), and Ben (16), climb into those high top buggy seats. With memories flooding my mind, I was reminded that life is lived once; there are no repeats, just new opportunities; that singing together makes a better concert; stopping in the busyness to intentionally encourage another just might work; that for those who believe, the white bearded red suited guy might bring a wishful smile for little and big ones alike; but the reason for celebrating this season of giving isn’t based on what we can get but what we can give while realizing God’s gift to us. Please join me in random and meaningful expressions of spreading the good news to all, in any forum you have, and in any way possible, even if you can’t sing in the Church Cantata.

I am interested in how others share the good news this season, so please take a moment and sign into this link http://tinyurl.com/Christmas-Cheer-2010 and tell your own short stories of random expressions of cheerful hearts. I will share these later.

A proud father…

I never tire of sharing amazing stories about my children or their mom. We all know that most of their good traits are from Angela. But, I get to travel with them more than she. This past weekend, Nicholas played in a worship band at a youth leadership conference in the Nashville area. I was also participating in the conference so he and I went together. During the 2 hour drive we conversed a lot about the typical father-son stuff, took some profile pictures by the 30 ft icicles hanging off the edge of the mountain, snagged some lunch, and discussed the worldly pitfalls of life like speeding. It was a great time.

But, amidst loads of memories for the weekend, the most favored one’s occurred on Friday and Saturday night as I stood in awe of Nicholas’ anointed and gifted musical ability. He has been playing the bass for a few years at our home church (PRC in Cleveland) but in the last few months, Nicholas has emerged as a great musician-more importantly a sincere worshiper. At one point on Friday night, I noticed Nick in pause from playing his bass, lost in personal worship with God. This moment flooded my mind with 17 years of memories where I would see Nick in various facets of his life…memories that came alive as I watched my son passionate about his creator and returning all of himself in worship.

Although I get to hear him each week at church, on occasions at these conferences and conventions, he also plays in his room almost every night before going to bed. Sometimes I stand in the hall by his room listening and learning. Here are three lessons I learned from watching Nick in worship:

• Make every moment count
• Worship daily not just when on the stage
• Honor the creator by working diligently to develop the gifts given to you

Thank you, Nick, for taking this call of music seriously. You are a joy to listen to but more importantly, you have chosen to honor God and give back your life in worship to Him.

Welcome Back

Welcome back! These two words usually accompany a warm welcome of family and friends after being apart for an extended amount of time. Perhaps you have visualized a long awaited reunion of a military servant, a missionary, parents and children, spouses, or best friends as they offer expressions of affection unique to each ones personality.

Several years ago, I traveled extensively and was away from my family for multiple days at a time. Each reunion was a refreshing reminder that family mattered; everything else seemed secondary to those long awaited reunions.

There are other elements of the relational paradigm aside from family where “welcome back” is applicable. One case in particular is the start of a new semester in school or college. You can visualize it: students are returning from a long awaited break where they enjoyed long hours of whatever it is students do on down days, apart from the pressing deadlines and tedious assignments. Then one morning they wake up away only to return to the rigor of an educational journey full of promise and possibility.

So, to my friends at Lee, the students that give us reason to serve, welcome back! I am glad you are here. I am glad you chose us. I am glad you are returning with vigor and zeal to glean and learn. I am thankful for your inspiration and commitments to excellence. Together we will sharpen each other and together we will invite our new friends to experience this amazing journey.

Remember: you can never go back and make a new beginning but you can begin today to make a great ending.

With purpose,