IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

The first time I walked into The Log Cabin Gallery in Peninsula a few years ago, I felt like I was home. It’s one of those places that just refreshes my soul every time I visit. Maybe it’s the rustic log cabin with it’s earthy, warm feel. Or it might be the ever-changing creativity by local artists beautifully displayed by it’s director, Diane Seskes. This afternoon, I had the privilege of providing Christmas music with my travel size Martin guitar as part of their OVER THE RIVER WINTER 2008 EXHIBIT. Santa and his elves showed up as well as the Tin Soldier and a few customers hummed along.

I was able to select a charity of my choice for donations that came in. My friend, Cathy Monnin (a member of Rockside Church) helps lead a missions organization that, among other things, cares for orphans in Madagascar. So Worldview International was the charity of my choice. They are set up to accept donations online at www.worldviewinternational.org if you’re looking for some children in need of a Merry Christmas.

It was a very fun afternoon and, I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking …. it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

GRAB THE CAMERA, THE TABLE IS SET!

I was sharing with our church last Sunday that our family has this strange tradition. When we gather for holidays and special occasions, prior to saying the prayer over the meal, we grab a camera and take a picture… not of the people… of the food! I’m not exactly sure why we do that. Maybe it’s because we work so hard to prepare the meal and it’s really quite a culinary masterpiece that evokes a response of pausing to admire our collective efforts and to permanently capture a snapshot so we can remember.

Sharing this really DID have something to do with the sermon. We were talking about God creating for 6 days, then resting on the 7th day. (Genesis 2:2-3) Why did he do that? Maybe that seventh day was about God stepping back to admire his beautiful creation. So when we work 6 rest 1, when we remember the sabbath, we pause to admire God, to worship Him, and admire His handiwork saying, “yes, this is an incredible God of all creation!” It’s the only command with “remember” before it. (Exodus 20:9-11)

Today I had the privilege of hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my home. And in keeping with tradition, we reached for our cameras. So here’s a picture of our table, this time with people in the scene. (my sister, Debbie, brother-in-law, Rick and my mom). I'm very thankful. I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

The more I’m around the folks from CORNERSTONE OF HOPE here in Independence, the more I respect and appreciate this organization and what they represent. I’ve wanted the congregation at ROCKSIDE CHURCH to become acquainted with this organization, and vice versa, for some time now and it finally happened last Sunday! Author Henri Nouwen talks about the choice each of must make regarding what we do with PAIN in our lives. Will we take our pain under the curse of satan or under the BLESSINGS OF GOD? When Christi and Mark Tripodi (pictured here) lost their little boy sudden, they had a choice to make. They could have permitted their grief to envelop them. Many marriages do not even survive the death of a child. Instead, they took their pain under the BLESSINGS OF GOD and founded CORNERSTONE OF HOPE that is now a place of healing and restoration for others in the pain of grief. This past Sunday, Cornerstone of Hope’s spiritual director, Matt Williams, along with Bre and Megan, two interns, came to share at Rockside Church. I love this practical, entrepreneurial, local example of a Biblical theology of pain … and I love it when my friends meet my other friends!