Let The Bells Ring

 Merry Christmas one and all!  

I can't help but think of the timeliness of this song ("I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Casting Crowns), even though Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the words over 150 years ago.  Our country was divided - one ideology versus another.  His family suffered from brokenness, life changing injury and death without warning. Sounds eerily familiar doesn't it?


We all struggle, at one time or another, with doubt and despair.  We wonder if hate is overpowering love, if everything good and decent has been wiped out.  Yet through it all, there remains a trace of optimism, a yearning for inspiration.



In the midst of his personal tragedies and in a country literally at war with itself, Longfellow reminds us that Christmas does bring the promise of Peace on earth, good will to all. There is more than hope - there is a living God and a newborn Savior. That's certainly some news worth ringing bells over.

Peace, 
Mark

An Old Dog Tries a New Trick

"Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel" is, for me at least, the Advent Hymn for the ages.  It speaks to the promise of the season, the greatness that is coming.  Is it any wonder that so many Christmas Eve services and Advent seasons open with this powerful tune? 

Christmas seems to catch me a bit unprepared most years.  Yes, I know - it comes at the same time each and every every year accompanied with lots of advance "warning".  Nonetheless, my preparation gets packed into the last week.  More often than not, I am shopping for gifts on Christmas Eve.  No wonder I get so stressed?!?

So this year I'm getting started earlier.  Advent is after all, about preparation, not procrastination.  I believe that in the end, the season will be more enjoyable and more fulfilling this way.  Couldn't we all benefit from making time to focus on the joy and promise of Christmas?  Peace.

A Thankful Heart

I offer Arthur Guiterman's poem/prayer to start this day in the true spirit of Thanksgiving:  

So once in every year we throng 

Upon a day apart,

To praise the Lord with feast and song

In thankfulness of heart.

Seems I've been focused on the almighty dollar and the things I want.  My heart hasn't been thankful - its been selfish.  Earlier this week,  I saw the saying - Someone else is happy with less than what you have - and then I heard this simple child's song.  Ok, you've got my attention.  I get it, there's a better choice and I've been overlooking it.  Thank You!

Happy Thanksgiving one and all.  As we share time with family and friends, in celebration of our many blessings, lets remember that giving thanks is more than a once-a-year activity.  Peace.

As tradition would have it, here are a few Thanksgiving thoughts, quotes and ideas that I've enjoyed:

…a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced...

      - The First Thanksgiving Proclamation, June 20, 1676

God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.
                                        - Izaak Walton

Dear Lord; we beg but one boon more:
Peace in the hearts of all men living,
Peace in the whole world this Thanksgiving.

                                         - Joseph Auslander

Was I Love, when no one
   else would show up? ...

Was I Jesus to the least of us? ...

                                                          Was my worship more than just a song? ...

These lyrics have been stuck in my head for weeks now....  probably because the words nailed my insecurities about the footprints of my life - including this blog. 

I've been away from the songs of the week for a long time and I've been away from meaningful church attendance (let alone participation) for even longer still.  So while I've been saying - "I'm so busy with kids' stuff" or "Work is taking so much more time" or "The limitations of the music player make it too difficult to continue the SOTW" - I think whats really kept me away is the sense of my own hypocrisy.  Who am I to write these messages and then not live them? 

I am truly grateful for the opportunity I've had to share music and thoughts about faith and Christianity, albeit from my "average Joe" point of view.  Clearly there is some greater power leading me back to the SOTW's (and to more?) The challenge for me is living up to the ideals that I write about, or even working towards them. 

For whatever reason I'm here again, time will tell.  I suspect that God's plan will be far better than the one(s) I keep fighting making.  Peace, Mark