Merry Christmas!

Funny how in this Holy Week, a time that's supposed to be calm and peaceful, seems anything but. Thousands of deadlines seem to pop up and threaten to steal our joy, if we let them. To paraphrase the great Chuck D (love you, too, Flavor Flav) we've got to fight the powers that be on this one. We must do what we can to carve out space to be filled by God's message of grace and peace and hope during this special week. It's a battle to do it to be sure, but very much worth it.

I ran across this paragraph from a Max Lucado devotional that says it better than I ever could:

"If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior."

May you and yours have a most joyous and blessed Christmas and 2010!

And yes, I just name-checked Flavor Flav and Max Lucado in the same blog post. That's how I roll.

Parker Christian Orser!!!!

So stoked for my little sis, who just delivered 7 lbs 12 oz. of awesome into the world. Welcome Parker Christian Orser!!! | http://ow.ly/N0DY

Our gifts

This weekend, I got one of the best early Christmas presents ever. I had taken my two wild childs out to buy their Christmas gifts for Mommy. I was proud because they used their own money that they had earned from doing chores. And they picked her out some great things, wrapped them and made personal notes for each one. My wife is gonna love all they put into these gifts that literally each cost less than $4 each.

But I guess my son thought I was being left out. So he went outside, found a walnut, brought it inside and wrapped it for me. In tin foil.

It was seriously one of the greatest gifts I'd ever been given. Because it was so heartfelt and genuine. Because I wasn't expecting it. Because it was from him.

Reflecting on it later, I felt like God probably wants more gifts like that from me. Less big wordy prayers full of boastful promises (I'm NEVER gonna lose my temper again! I'm not going to have a lustful thought ALL WEEK!) and more real, genuine praise and love. Why get caught up in how "fancy" or "perfect" my accomplishments, wants or desires are...and instead just give him more of myself?

Yeah - that makes too much sense. No wonder I hadn't thought of it before. Thanks to my 4 year old for showing me how it's done.

Tebow does it again

Timmy has done it again. How can you not be down with Tim Tebow? Even as a die hard UT fan, I've got to give it up for him. Amazing.

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

Shane Claiborne has a radical Christian's ministry for the poor, The Simple Way. He was also recently asked by Esquire magazine to address those who don't believe. His first line had me hooked:


"To all my nonbelieving, sort-of-believing, and used-to-be-believing friends: I feel like I should begin with a confession. I am sorry that so often the biggest obstacle to God has been Christians."

Read the whole letter now. It is tremendous.

Dream big. Live small.

Genius

Can you imagine if Hendrix hadn't played his guitar? If Picasso didn't paint? If MLK didn't share his dream?

Shine your light greatly and share your genius boldly today. The world will be a better place for it.

Jennifer Landon

Thoughts and prayers to the family of Jennifer Landon. She ran such a great race, fought the good fight and lived a life that inspired many, including yours truly. Heaven got a new angel.

LANDON, JENNIFER LEE MAY - age 43, October 14, 1966 - November 29, 2009. She lived a wonderful life almost four years after being diagnosed with melanoma in January 2006. Please be aware of the early signs of melanoma as it can be caught early and treated. Jennifer's most important mission was being involved in the lives of her family and friends. Many people were positively influenced by her caring and helpful ways. Jennifer was a graduate of East Tennessee State University and has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee and is also an LCSW. She was very active in Church Street UMC and enjoyed participating in the Crossroads Sunday School Class, the Stephen Ministry, and a variety of other ministries. She also enjoyed being involved in various school organizations for her children. Jennifer was preceded in death by her father, John C. May. She is survived by her husband Rick; daughters, Meg, 14 and Molly, 12; mother, Sharon May; brother, Jeff May and wife Tamera; in-laws, Dick and Joan Landon; sisters-in-law, Kim Anthony and Lori Cason; brother-in-law, Michael Landon and wife Cheryl; nieces, Emily May and Alexandra Anthony; nephews, Tyler and Ryan McMillan; uncle and aunt, Phil & Kris Wilcox, Holly Springs, NC; cousins, Scott Wilcox and wife Megan of Key West, FL and Matt Wilcox of Ohio, and Andrew Wilcox and wife Stephanie of Holly Springs, NC. During her illness, Jennifer was especially appreciative of her devoted mother and in-laws. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Thursday, December 3, at Church Street United Methodist Church with a 7:00 funeral service following. The family will meet at 1pm Friday, December 4, for a private family graveside service at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens. Honorary pallbearers will be Crossroads Sunday School Class. Memorials can be made to The Stephen Ministry of Church Street United Methodist Church, the Capstone Endowment of Church Street UMC, or the Crossroads Sunday School Class of Church Street UMC. Woodhaven Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, 160 Edgemoor Road, Powell, 865-945-3461, is honored to serve the Landon Family. To share your thoughts and memories of Jennifer, go to www.woodhavenfh.com.