Incomplete Christmas

I love this week of the year as it encourages me to stop for a minute and think about what is really important.  I missed having my dad around for Christmas this year.  He loved Christmas.  When we were young, we would set up a stage with floodlights and flying reindeer in our front yard a couple of weeks before Christmas.  "Santa" would miraculously appear around dusk and sit in his rocking chair until there were no more kids to talk to.  We would have as many as 100 kids per night stop by.  It was widely known that 2401 Carson Drive was the location of the real Santa Claus.  "Don't fall for those fakes in the malls."  My dad passed away 19 years ago from Melanoma.  We discovered it way too late, and it had spread to most of his major organs.   Our times together between his diagnosis and his death were some of the sweetest times we had together, but Cancer is a vicious killer.  If you are interested in helping to find a cure for Cancer, there are plenty of organizations that need your help, but you can't go wrong with the American Cancer Society.  I hope you have a great and purposeful 2023.

All is well?

Carrie Underwood is the biggest thing to ever come out of American Idol and is arguably one of the most popular female country singers of all time.  I have liked her from the start, but I get that true country music fans might consider her a newcomer or too "pop".   Carrie has another side to her that increases her appeal for me.  She is a believer that is not afraid to let people know it in an industry where it is mostly unpopular to talk about.  I have posted this video before, but I could post it every week and it wouldn't be too much for me.  All is certainly not well in our world today, but all can be well with us if Jesus takes up residence in our hearts.  Merry Christmas.

In His Wakes

This week in my business post at Spot On The Lake, I wrote about Kristi Overton and her father's company Overtons.com.   Kristi held the world record in slalom water skiing for 18 years and is now using her influence to serve others and introduce them to her faith in Jesus.  She started In His Wakes ministry which offers a Day to Remember on the water to at-risk youth and adults who might not otherwise have a chance to do that.   Kristi and the staff use the day as a chance to introduce participants to what Jesus has done for them in their lives, in the hope that they might come to know Jesus as well.  I love seeing gifted people use their passions to help build God's kingdom here on earth. 

The great mysterium

This past Sunday, Caroline and I performed in the annual Christmas concert of the Georgia Wind Symphony.  We played some classic literature, new compositions and wrapped up with some Christmas favorites.  But I can't go through the Christmas season without listening to O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridson.  We didn't play it this year, but here is a recording from several years ago.  Our current conductor is David Vandewalker, but in this video, our Conductor Emeritus and the founder of The Georgia Wind Symphony, David Gregory is conducting.  Look for Caroline playing flute and me on trumpet.  If you want to hear more, here is the original vocal arrangement sung by the King's choir in Cambridge.  Here is the text in English:

O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!

Merry Christmas

Living Inheritance

 Last night, we wrapped up our discussion of Andy Stanley's, Enemies of the Heart.   He identifies the enemies as anger, guilt, greed and jealousy.  The primary weapons that God has given us to combat these enemies are forgiveness, confession, generosity and celebration of other's success, in that order.  The last chapter of the book encourages us to pass on what we have learned.  We can pass along what we have learned to anyone, but we have the most influence with our kids.   The first way we can help our kids is by demonstrating the kind of responses that Andy has been encouraging throughout this book.  We can also tell them what to do, but Andy encourages us to ask questions instead of delivering a sermon.   "Are you mad at anybody?" "Did anybody hurt your feelings today?" "Is there anything you need to tell me?"  While most of us were thinking about young kids at home while reading this, we agreed that this approach is probably good with grown kids as well.  I know I was convicted that I need to do this more.

Not Just Helping Hands

Last week, in my weekly real estate update, I talked about how thankful I am for Michael, Wendy and Janet who make up our Spot On The Lake team.  They make work feel not that much like work, and I wouldn't  want to be in real estate without them.  I have been trying to focus more on the things that I am thankful for (or should be thankful for).  Of course, Jesus, family, friends, work,  and health all come to mind.  But today, I would like to single out my brother, John.  For the past several years, he has been the primary caretaker for my mom, who is 91 this year.  He prepares her meals, makes sure she gets to and from her bedroom safely, and provides unending moral support and encouragement.  I am so thankful that he has been willing and able to be with her.  She is in excellent hands, and his availability has made my mom's aging easier for me and the rest of my family.  Thank you, John.  We love you.

The Ultimate Gamer

 

I'm no gamer.  My high score came on Donkey Kong after winning a Nintendo game system in a work raffle in 1983.  It was all down-hill after that.  My kids always had a game system, but never the latest and greatest one, and I don't remember them being overly infatuated with them.  My grandkids all have their pads with limits on screen time, and I recognize that electronics will be a part of kid's lives forever.  I have heard some real horror stories about kids (young and old) being consumed with video games.  I can't understand it directly, but I know it is real.  Others have crafted successful careers and amassed fortunes based on the success of video games.  Maksym Vysochanskiy at SimulaM is one of those people.  After the successful release of hundreds of simulation games, Maksym will be releasing in December, "I am Jesus Christ".  The game is proposed to be an art masterpiece allowing the gamer to explore the world from Jesus' perspective.   Maksym read through the bible four times attempting to make the game as realistic and engaging as possible.  I don't know a lot more about Maksym.  I am assuming he is a believer, but don't even know that for sure.  But I love that he invested himself in trying to help introduce Jesus to a group of people that may not have found Him anywhere else.  For more on Maksym and the "I am Jesus Christ" video game, click here, and for a quick video preview of the game, click here.