tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542202695809147652024-03-14T08:37:38.470-08:00The Epistle Of JimYou know those wonderful "epistles" in the Bible, those deep, theological letters of support, encouragement and instruction written by the saints? Well, this isn't one of them.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.comBlogger1512125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-27521519398875769032012-01-14T11:01:00.000-09:002012-01-14T11:02:26.927-09:00I'M MOVING !!!To a new blogging home.<br />
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This blog is continuing over at WordPress. You can find me now at <a href="http://www.epistleofjim.com/">www.epistleofjim.com</a>.<br />
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<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-69156572967792438362012-01-06T18:12:00.001-09:002012-01-06T18:12:47.861-09:00Looking for an Epiphany<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/5331994987/" title="Gifts for the Infant King by Lawrence OP, on Flickr"><img alt="Gifts for the Infant King" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5006/5331994987_1bd8e4642a.jpg" width="438" /></a><br />
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I am looking for an Epiphany today. That seems like a pretty good request, seeing that it's Epiphany and all. Epiphany is celebrated today, January 6th and is the time we remember those wise guys, the magi, coming from afar and worshipping at the feet of Jesus...if not necessarily at the same time as the shepherds. Epiphany means "manifestation of God" and the folks here at Girdwood Chapel are very used to me driving that point into the ground on Epiphany Sunday, which we celebrated last week here.<br />
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I have always found it interesting, indeed surprising, indeed scandalous how the Lord God Almighty chose to manifest himself. Baby. Manger. Animal stall. Poor shepherds. Really the only ones with any means that make an appearance in that early story are those magi...and they show up a bit later. Everyone else is dirt poor or at least on the low end of the social-economic ladder. <br />
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Jesus comes into the mess...the muck...the brokenness of our world. It's as Paul says in Philippians 4:6-8:<br />
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<blockquote>
<i><b>Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.</b></i></blockquote>
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God comes to us in the stuff of life. It has been said that, because of the incarnation there nothing so secular that it cannot be sacred. God enters here. He is manifested and revealed in the dark areas of our lives. He is the light of the world who comes to us.<br />
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And so the prophet Isaiah proclaims:<br />
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<blockquote>
<i><b>"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." </b></i>(Isaiah 60:3)</blockquote>
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Good stuff.<br />
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And while I'm not one to go on and on about how my spiritual life is a mess (which, one could say it is) or how life is terrible (which it isn't) there are some areas I'm looking for an Epiphany, a little manifestation from the Lord...areas where I need God's light to shine.<br />
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I could use a little epiphanizing (?) or a little manifestation of God as I struggle with how to work with the church I serve to make some financial progress. We just went to a 3/4 time pastoral role and we (both the church and I) would like to be back on our financial feet in a year. There's a lot of work to do here. I could use a little epiphany (or maybe a big one).<br />
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I could use a little manifestation of God as I tackle a Bible reading plan for the year. While I've read t all of the Bible for various classes, both those I've attended and those I've taught, I'm hoping and praying for some new revelations as I make it through over 12 months.<br />
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I could use a little light in the darkness as I try to get a new blog up and running. This blogging thing has actually been wonderful for my spiritual life and the things I've read and reflected on have had a profound influence on me. I'd like to "step it up" a bit.<br />
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I don't look at my life, my family, my job, my health and feel like the world is crashing in around me. I'm aware of God's presence. I feel the love of family and friends. I do enjoy what I do. But, I'm praying for an Epiphany today. I would like to have "The Star" guide me into the presence of Christ in a new way and then return by a new way myself.<br />
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And then I'll just have to figure out what gift I should lay at Christ's feet. I'm plum out of Gold and Frankincense and Myrrh. I'll probably need to pull the verse from "In the Bleak Midwinter" out of my memory... <br />
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<blockquote>
What canI give him, poor as I am?<br />
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb:<br />
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;<br />
Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.</blockquote>
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And that would be enough.<br />
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But...first...Epiphany.<br />
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Bring it on.<br />
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<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-18952248151811472152012-01-04T10:39:00.000-09:002012-01-04T10:39:23.277-09:00The Difference Between Successfulness and Fruitfulness<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DewberriesWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Dewberry flowers. Note the multiple pistils, e..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="389" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/DewberriesWeb.jpg/300px-DewberriesWeb.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DewberriesWeb.jpg">Wikipedia</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">There
is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success
comes from strength, control, and respectability. A successful person
has the energy to create something, to keep control over its
development, and to make it available in large quantities. Success
brings many rewards and often fame. Fruits, however, come from weakness
and vulnerability. And fruits are unique. A child is the fruit conceived
in vulnerability, community is the fruit born through shared
brokenness, and intimacy is the fruit that grows through touching one
another's wounds. Let's remind one another that what brings us true joy
is not successfulness but fruitfulness.</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> Henri Nouwen </span></span></span></h6>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=273efe1a-71c7-4861-837a-f40081ee4a4a" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-71810038311040621282011-12-31T15:06:00.002-09:002011-12-31T15:06:49.951-09:002011 Through the Eyes Of Twitter<iframe width="576" height="324" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yUdOhjjy-JU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-26570182110674201682011-12-30T19:46:00.000-09:002011-12-30T19:46:06.923-09:00My Person of the Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNc-wzHSDiRVdmJXUGZ5tATaZkp0I88AYfrRmopWOyz76TXYamd55T0b5xFxc3_ZAH9Ibq7lj_C2VuZjxFjGhtS9HUU-poAyIvkrUCdzisAea7qJBtZ78bRvQPJpGLf6S5Kn7ACIX6UQ/s1600/personoftheyear.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNc-wzHSDiRVdmJXUGZ5tATaZkp0I88AYfrRmopWOyz76TXYamd55T0b5xFxc3_ZAH9Ibq7lj_C2VuZjxFjGhtS9HUU-poAyIvkrUCdzisAea7qJBtZ78bRvQPJpGLf6S5Kn7ACIX6UQ/s320/personoftheyear.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Time Magazine's PERSON OF THE YEAR is "The Protester." I guess I can understand why "The Protester" was chosen and not Steve Jobs...although I have more of an affinity towards Steve Jobs. I assume that their "person of the year" is the person who has the most influence on the year, was most newsworthy, and will have the most lasting influence. And, while Steve Jobs did some great stuff in 2011 and his passing was definitely newsworthy, one can argue that much of his work and influence covers the last decade, not so much the year. The protesters, in contrast, were quite a phenomenon for 2011. It is clear that their influence on "The Arab Spring" will be felt for years to come as the dust settles throughout the Middle East. On the home front, it has been the Occupy Wall Street protestors, from coast to coast, trying to confront the social and economic inequity that affects our nation greatly. <br />
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So, yes, "The Protester" makes sense. Impact on the calendar year. Lasting impact around the globe. Newsworthiness. How they will impact history.<br />
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That, and we'll put Steve Jobs in second place.<br />
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Well, what about <b>my</b> PERSON OF THE YEAR. I decided I'd go with some of the same qualities that I think Time Magazine uses. This person would be newsworthy to me...the focus of much of my time and attention. This person would need to have made an impact on the year...there were changes or movements that this person was intimately connected with. This person would be someone whose actions or choices would have a lasting impact on myself, my family, or my job.<br />
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This narrows things down dramatically and there are some runners up who didn't come out on top:<br />
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<b>Gail Grossman</b> (my mentor) -- Gail is a layperson I met with 10 times over the course of the first half of the year. All of our meetings were by phone. While her help was enlisted to address some of the financial difficulties at Girdwood Chapel, what she ended up doing with me is helping us figure out a long-term ministry plan and get the ball rolling. It's because of her that our small group ministry is taking root. She was also influential in the start of our "Friday Night Live" youth nights and our Tween Group. I can't thank her enough.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.markscandrette.com/">Mark Scandrette</a></b> (author/Christ-follower) -- I read his <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830836349/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=jesusdojocom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0830836349">book</a> this year...and it changed the way I think about discipleship. It's not that any of what he said, as far as the individual pieces are concerned, was new to me. However, the way he put it all together was exceptionally helpful. I just want to jump in and put it all into practice and once and need to take a breath as I realize that it's a marathon and not a sprint. I think this book is something I'm going to have to take out again and again and again.<br />
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<b>Jon Stewart</b> (TV Personality) -- OK, so Jon was probably not really in the running for PERSON OF THE YEAR for me. But I want to take a moment and recognize that, <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">The Daily Show</a> is one show that I catch 3-4 times a week...and it's only on 4 times a week. This year, perhaps more than any other, I have gotten totally frustrated with the world of politics. I know many accuse Jon of firing his shots from the left, but I seriously believe he's frustrated any time politics is put ahead of people and he tries to shine a light on it. He recognizes the lies that this world tells us through the media. Some of it is painful to watch. Much of it is uproariously funny. But his show has made me want to live into the notion that all politics is local. It's about people. It's about the people I know and meet and eat with and love. This year, more than any other, I've been shaped by this.<br />
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<b>Steve Jobs</b> (CEO of Apple) -- I am an Apple fan boy. I type this on a MacBook Pro. This year I got an iPad and and iPhone. Much of my time is spent on a device that this guy thought up and brought to production. He has had a lasting effect on how I communicate and the ways in which I use technology for my job...for pastoring people. This year I mourned his death.<br />
<br />
But with those three finalists out of the way, it's time to introduce my PERSON OF THE YEAR.<br />
<br />
Drumroll, please.........<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>MY PERSON OF THE YEAR IS JULIE DOEPKEN, MY LOVELY WIFE. </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi40-DW8ZhxkkJePUFlBcCac11-k5DQPbI6h-rt8gYuAfuoyxywiGKBGCGH7ROwIA6Rkylu15lrjVdbXybnsABS__7NGQqyJ6VPxgnXwh3Bc7RhILPjkYnAvIMSX1RCB1FWXdxokFGy58/s1600/julieface.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi40-DW8ZhxkkJePUFlBcCac11-k5DQPbI6h-rt8gYuAfuoyxywiGKBGCGH7ROwIA6Rkylu15lrjVdbXybnsABS__7NGQqyJ6VPxgnXwh3Bc7RhILPjkYnAvIMSX1RCB1FWXdxokFGy58/s320/julieface.png" width="248" /></a></div>Here's how it is. <br />
<br />
This year we celebrated our 20th anniversary. She's been instrumental in what I do and think and who I've come to be over those 20 years. Moreover, this year was a big year for her. Not only did she complete her hours of education for her teaching certificate but she performed her student teaching and jumped through hoop after hoop of administrative requirements. This was a Fall fraught with turmoil and conflict as we navigated the rough waters of her job...much of it related to a killer schedule. Together we struggled and made decisions about what was best for us as a family. <br />
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Over the last four months in particular, Julie has been "newsworthy." Her work and her education, the struggles and the great joys, were what we spent time talking about. She got up early to get to work. She worked after everyone else had gone to bed. She was a focus of our family and the rest of us rallied to enable her to complete the job before her.<br />
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All the while she managed to mother our five kids and be a wife to me and be an active member of our church community and the Girdwood Community as a whole. This was no small task.<br />
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And it will have a lasting effect on all of us. She exhibited both strength and humility...a fine example for me and our kids. Her choices in her job will have a positive effect on our economic situation...especially important as I move from full time to 3/4 time employment in the church. Almost always, she was an example of grace under pressure...and Lord knows we had enough pressure.<br />
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I thank God for her. <br />
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So, with that in mind, I declare that JULIE DOEPKEN IS THE PERSON OF THE YEAR...at least "my" year.<br />
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(And she should be pleased as can be that she, too, beat out Steve Jobs.)Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-74586327221905583912011-12-30T00:38:00.000-09:002011-12-30T00:38:10.272-09:00"The Incarnation of the Piper"<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/roberts87/2853418424/" title="The Pied Piper Of Hamelin by ®DS, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3096/2853418424_63ac3c5692_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="The Pied Piper Of Hamelin"></a><br />
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<div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I see Christ as the incarnation of the piper who is calling us. He dances that shape and pattern which is at the heart of our reality. </span></div><br />
Sydney CarterJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-39052800822187107282011-12-28T16:56:00.000-09:002011-12-28T16:56:06.545-09:00The Pastor's Wife<h2 style="text-align: center;">The Pastor’s Wife</h2><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>by Judy Bowling</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She’s a Godly woman, she has such grace</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Always a warm greeting, a smile on her face</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She’s always encouraging, she knows her place</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is – The Pastor’s Wife</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She has to always look just right</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Always on time, though the schedule’s tight</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">From early morning, till late at night</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Always – The Pastor’s Wife</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She’s such a Lady, everyone’s friend</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She serves with love from deep within</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">All of the rifts she tries to mend</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh she’s – The Pastor’s Wife</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She carries your burdens, she prays for you</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes she cries the whole night through</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">But you won’t know when she’s feeling blue</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">‘Cause she’s – The Pastor’s Wife</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">At church as she starts to walk up the aisle</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">So many needs to stop and talk for awhile</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Though she is tired, she has her own trials</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She’s patient, she’s – The Pastor’s Wife</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Her life, her time is not her own</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">There’s always a need, they go on and on</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">With a knock on the door or a ringing phone</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">That’s the life of – The Pastor’s Wife</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Her husband she shares with a whole congregation</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She humbly accepts his intense dedication</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In loneliness she kneels to seek consolation</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">God Bless – The Pastor’s Wife</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She will someday reach the end of her race</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">As she meets her Master, face to face</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Surely our God had a Special Place</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In heaven for – The Pastor’s Wife</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<i>I post this in recognition of my lovely wife, who has been a "Pastor's Wife" for 18 out of our 20 years of marriage. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>While the poem can be found <a href="http://www.pastor-gifts.com/pastors-wife-poems">here</a>, I found it via <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tonyjones/2011/12/28/a-poem-for-the-pastor%E2%80%99s-wife/">Tony Jones' blog</a>.</i>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-80448558230191037812011-12-28T09:00:00.004-09:002011-12-28T09:00:04.679-09:00The Liberation of the Incarnation<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/4460564820/" title="Burgos Annunciation by Lawrence OP, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2692/4460564820_1a523e0eeb.jpg" width="329" height="500" alt="Burgos Annunciation"></a><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Among other things, Jesus liberates by mediating God’s Presence to us. In the midst of our pains and prisons, Jesus liberates us through Presence. God’s Presence is a subtle, unique, and powerful kind of liberation. It does not promise to change our circumstance, instead it transforms the way we relate to our circumstance. It gives clarity, acceptance, and hope in the midst of the storm.</span></div><br />
<a href="http://shanehipps.com/2011/12/jesus-or-emmanuel/">Shane Hipps</a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-84266976891549227812011-12-28T07:44:00.006-09:002011-12-28T07:44:00.579-09:00Happy 20th Wedding Anniversary To My Lovely WifeI thank God for these 20 years and look forward to many more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACPSWxeGS9U/TvmUDBx151I/AAAAAAAACD8/3t19iV7ipR0/s1600/WeddingPhoto1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACPSWxeGS9U/TvmUDBx151I/AAAAAAAACD8/3t19iV7ipR0/s400/WeddingPhoto1.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4QnE4bsVmk/TvmUKiyXd9I/AAAAAAAACEE/XDmBFNUtp_E/s1600/Wedding+Playing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4QnE4bsVmk/TvmUKiyXd9I/AAAAAAAACEE/XDmBFNUtp_E/s400/Wedding+Playing.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riGNQFUa3zM/TvmUaKvxQDI/AAAAAAAACEM/dBum6iAhq6o/s1600/Wedding+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riGNQFUa3zM/TvmUaKvxQDI/AAAAAAAACEM/dBum6iAhq6o/s400/Wedding+kiss.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-34486484931390565182011-12-27T09:23:00.001-09:002011-12-27T09:23:00.128-09:00"The Xmas Borg"<div class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stephen_Harper_-_Resistance_is_Futile.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="English: Stephen Harper, despotic ruler of Can..." height="416" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Stephen_Harper_-_Resistance_is_Futile.jpg/300px-Stephen_Harper_-_Resistance_is_Futile.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; float: right; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stephen_Harper_-_Resistance_is_Futile.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div><i>The following is an excerpt of <a href="http://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2011/12/26/you_cant_hide_from_the_xmas_borg_106395.html">an article by Jeffrey Weiss</a> found over at <a href="http://www.realclearreligion.org/">RealClearReligion</a>.</i><br />
<br />
[The "War on Christmas"] is the battle by Christmas against any other religion's tradition. I defy Bill O'Reilly and his compadres to locate the smallest corner of our nation immune from the months-long drumbeat of Christmas stuff. For us, the holiday seems closer to Star Trek's Borg Collective ("Resistance is futile!") than anything I can find in the Christian scriptures.<br />
<br />
...so much of Christmas in America has nothing to do with Christ or Jesus. If there was a war, it was waged long ago amongst Christians. And the majority of them decided they also wanted a cultural holiday that distilled an essence from Christmas and left most of the God stuff behind. In my mind, I think of that holiday as "Xmas."<br />
<br />
Look at our cultural holiday touchstones, all the way back to Dickens's <i>Christmas Carol</i>. What are the books, movies and TV specials that come back again and again and again? <i>It's a Wonderful Life. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Nutcracker. Frosty the Snowman. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. A Visit from St. Nicholas. The Nightmare Before Christmas.</i> And on and on.<br />
<br />
There's only one example I can think of in the entire popular pantheon that includes enough actual theology for a short sermonette: Linus giving his unapologetic recitation from the Book of Luke in <i>A Charlie Brown Christmas.</i><br />
<br />
Let's not blame this on the ACLU or the Supreme Court or Barack Obama. The decisions about which of the many, many holiday-timed specials became perennials were made by the marketplace and over decades. Most attempts by Christian religionists to create entertainment that was explicitly Christian and transcendentally popular have had little success beyond preaching to their own choir. <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=a4f16afe-afb2-4919-9f40-f4d23e6d60e5" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-91506763485858965332011-12-27T07:45:00.001-09:002011-12-27T07:45:00.378-09:00The Incarnation -- According to Michael Spencer“...the incarnation is the complete refutation of every human system and institution that claims to control, possess, and distribute God. Whatever any church or religious leader may claim in regard to their particular access to God or control over your experience of God, the incarnation is the last word: God loves the world. God came into the world in the form of the people he created, the human race (including you and me), who bear his image. God's creation of humanity in his image gives hints of who he is, since we all are marked by his fingerprints. <br clear="none" style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto auto; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-left: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-right: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; bottom: auto; box-shadow: none; clear: none; color: #181818; cursor: auto; display: inline; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18px; left: auto; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; right: auto; text-decoration: none; top: auto; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" /><br clear="none" style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto auto; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-left: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-right: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; bottom: auto; caption-side: top; clear: none; color: #181818; content: none; direction: ltr; display: inline; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 400 14px/18px georgia, serif; height: 18px; ime-mode: auto; left: auto; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: disc none outside; margin: 0px; marker-offset: auto; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; opacity: 1; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; pointer-events: auto; resize: none; right: auto; table-layout: auto; text-align: left; text-anchor: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-overflow: clip; text-shadow: none; text-transform: none; top: auto; visibility: visible; width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px; z-index: auto;" />But as flawed humans, we give only a vague hint of God. Our broken reflection of God's image is easily drowned out by our broken humanity. then, two thousand years ago, God came in his fullness. He came to all of us in Jesus. The incarnation is not owned, trademarked, or controlled by any church. It belongs to every human being. The incarnation is not something that requires a distributor or middleman. It is a gracious gift to every person everywhere, religious or not. God gave himself to us in Jesus.” <br />
<br clear="none" style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto auto; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-left: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-right: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; bottom: auto; box-shadow: none; clear: none; color: #181818; cursor: auto; display: inline; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18px; left: auto; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; right: auto; text-decoration: none; top: auto; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" />― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4369234.Michael_Spencer" shape="rect" style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto auto; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom: rgb(102,102,0) 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-left: rgb(102,102,0) 0px; border-right: rgb(102,102,0) 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top: rgb(102,102,0) 0px; bottom: auto; caption-side: top; clear: none; color: #666600; content: none; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; display: inline; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 400 14px/18px georgia, serif; height: auto; ime-mode: auto; left: auto; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: disc none outside; margin: 0px; marker-offset: auto; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; opacity: 1; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; pointer-events: auto; resize: none; right: auto; table-layout: auto; text-align: left; text-anchor: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-overflow: clip; text-shadow: none; text-transform: none; top: auto; visibility: visible; width: auto; word-spacing: 0px; z-index: auto;" target="_blank">Michael Spencer</a>, <i style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto auto; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-left: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-right: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top: rgb(24,24,24) 0px; bottom: auto; box-shadow: none; clear: none; color: #181818; cursor: auto; display: inline; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: auto; left: auto; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; right: auto; text-decoration: none; top: auto; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/10270956" shape="rect" style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto auto; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom: rgb(102,102,0) 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-left: rgb(102,102,0) 0px; border-right: rgb(102,102,0) 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top: rgb(102,102,0) 0px; bottom: auto; caption-side: top; clear: none; color: #666600; content: none; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; display: inline; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 400 italic 14px/18px georgia, serif; height: auto; ime-mode: auto; left: auto; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: disc none outside; margin: 0px; marker-offset: auto; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; opacity: 1; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; pointer-events: auto; resize: none; right: auto; table-layout: auto; text-align: left; text-anchor: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-overflow: clip; text-shadow: none; text-transform: none; top: auto; visibility: visible; width: auto; word-spacing: 0px; z-index: auto;" target="_blank">Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality</a> </i>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-37285041578757370002011-12-26T19:47:00.000-09:002011-12-26T19:47:40.870-09:00Christmas Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4mT301MylCY/Tvg8oJD-diI/AAAAAAAACDY/_LHDQ-TtTYU/s1600/Christmasnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4mT301MylCY/Tvg8oJD-diI/AAAAAAAACDY/_LHDQ-TtTYU/s1600/Christmasnight.jpg" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-10428532859519097362011-12-26T13:33:00.000-09:002011-12-26T13:33:17.768-09:00Girdwood Chapel Altar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoBBQMllCZU/Tvj18zy1r5I/AAAAAAAACDw/eFCgNnZf4xc/s1600/IMG_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoBBQMllCZU/Tvj18zy1r5I/AAAAAAAACDw/eFCgNnZf4xc/s640/IMG_0222.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-42706578572527708612011-12-26T13:31:00.000-09:002011-12-26T13:31:32.173-09:00NOT a Horrible NativityThis is from the Girdwood Chapel altar.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3JG6KrKXYA/Tvj1gzKtF6I/AAAAAAAACDk/HKvGQPNiTm8/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3JG6KrKXYA/Tvj1gzKtF6I/AAAAAAAACDk/HKvGQPNiTm8/s640/IMG_0219.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-34018617615725895362011-12-26T09:20:00.001-09:002011-12-26T09:20:00.453-09:00Christmas Morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v2uebvXi-QI/Tvg8Yh6dS0I/AAAAAAAACDM/7PHNNg-kAsc/s1600/Christmas+Morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v2uebvXi-QI/Tvg8Yh6dS0I/AAAAAAAACDM/7PHNNg-kAsc/s1600/Christmas+Morning.jpg" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-41209355626940847662011-12-26T08:13:00.001-09:002011-12-26T08:13:00.183-09:00C.S. Lewis and The Incarnation<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/timgolden/460292668/" title="Sleeping dogs by Golden ~Eye~, on Flickr"><img alt="Sleeping dogs" height="375" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/243/460292668_7753250ecc.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Lying at your feet is your dog. Imagine, for the moment, that your dog and every dog is in deep distress. Some of us love dogs very much. If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog? Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, your art and literature and music, and choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved, the poor substitute of looking into the beloved's face and wagging your tail, unable to smile or speak? Christ by becoming man limited the thing which to Him was the most precious thing in the world; his unhampered, unhindered communion with the Father. "</b></span></div><br />
C.S. LewisJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-35499533941490652542011-12-26T07:42:00.002-09:002011-12-26T07:42:00.320-09:00Prayer Celebrating the Incarnation<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/3135219172/" title="Born for our Salvation by Lawrence OP, on Flickr"><img alt="Born for our Salvation" height="500" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3075/3135219172_1ac90d3e15.jpg" width="310" /></a><br />
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All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, because you are the Almighty Word of God!<br />
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All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, because you are the Word made flesh. You are Emmanuel, God with us!<br />
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All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, because you, the all-powerful Word of creation, became weak and vulnerable.<br />
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All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, because you became human in order to be with us, so that you might reveal the Father to us, and so that you might save us.<br />
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All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, Word of God Incarnate, Savior of the world…and my Savior too! <i> </i><br />
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<i>Amen</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/2011/12/26/keeping-christmas-well-focus-on-the-incarnation/"><i>By Mark Roberts </i></a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-35114562401123725852011-12-25T03:26:00.000-09:002011-12-25T03:26:15.761-09:00Good Christian Friends, Rejoice<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good Christian friends, rejoice</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">with heart and soul and voice;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">give ye heed to what we say:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">News, news! Jesus Christ is born today!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ox and ass before him bow,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and he is in the manger now.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ is born today,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ is born today!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good Christian friends, rejoice</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">with heart and soul and voice;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">now ye hear of endless bliss:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">News, news! Jesus Christ was born for this!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He hath opened heaven's door,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and ye are blest forevermore.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ was born for this,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ was born for this!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good Christian friends, rejoice</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">with heart and soul and voice;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">now ye need not fear the grave:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">News, news! Jesus Christ was born to save!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Calls you one and calls you all,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">to gain his everlasting hall.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ was born to save,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ was born to save!</span></span></div><div style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-25015898661913272412011-12-24T11:04:00.000-09:002011-12-24T11:04:10.508-09:00My Favorite Horrible Nativity -- The Mr. Bean Scene<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XDOO3FvGsZ4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-24689172038095781642011-12-24T10:59:00.002-09:002011-12-24T10:59:56.683-09:00Horrible Christmas Nativity -- December 24<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>A very Yeti Christmas to you.</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqLkfEV3VQE/TvYvEJ8BLsI/AAAAAAAACDA/tzk6M-W0bLY/s1600/Yetinativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqLkfEV3VQE/TvYvEJ8BLsI/AAAAAAAACDA/tzk6M-W0bLY/s1600/Yetinativity.jpg" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-38975505149744459442011-12-23T11:10:00.000-09:002011-12-23T11:10:01.085-09:00"The Incarnation" -- In Spoken Word<iframe width="576" height="324" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s6-XtFfKVM4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-54034006726116791902011-12-23T10:14:00.003-09:002011-12-25T23:47:32.096-09:00"Christmas in a Nutshell"<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QXgH8ZIz9jQ" width="640"></iframe>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-16013621944814059232011-12-23T09:26:00.000-09:002011-12-23T09:26:00.288-09:00Christmas Fun: A Caroling Fail<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wY0F31G-i9Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-52871333639474139832011-12-23T08:19:00.001-09:002011-12-23T08:19:00.618-09:00Christmas Fun: Snow Angels<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xy_Ef6PWQXo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3254220269580914765.post-88135676234365532862011-12-23T07:57:00.000-09:002011-12-23T07:57:00.337-09:00Horrible Christmas Nativity -- December 23It's CUPCAKE TIME!<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ilmo6dzrl3s/TvRClMLkP4I/AAAAAAAACC0/0YDlmYj1ADw/s1600/cupcakenativity.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ilmo6dzrl3s/TvRClMLkP4I/AAAAAAAACC0/0YDlmYj1ADw/s1600/cupcakenativity.jpeg" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07873671545938014251noreply@blogger.com0