Random thoughts

As we fast approach the ending of one year and the beginning of the new, I pause to reflect:
The Christmas story is one of God coming into a troubled, dark, and hostile world, and from a position of obscurity bringing salvation and hope to those forgotten and marginalized by circumstances. Light coming into darkness, breaking through the darkness, revealing things hidden, shameful wounds, secret sins - exposing them to heal and then restore.
These are difficult, some would say perilous times, economically, politically, spiritually... And at a time when the people of God need to be at their best, we have been beset with scandal, infidelities, financial mismanagement, apostasy, heresies and other junk!
Just a few days ago I was made aware of a situation close to home that broke my heart - it seems that the more we try to build accountability in the Body of Christ, the greater the battle to fracture and destroy our fellowship wages. There seems to be a disconnect between belief and practice, between public pronouncement and private conduct. There is an increasing tendency within the Body of Christ to espouse a grace that covers a multitude of sins but does not seek to uphold biblical standards of behavior and integrity. I pray that 2009 will bring a change and a return to 'Kingdom" thinking.

Christian Music in 2008

I am unashamedly, a born again christian. I write, play and sing christian music; but when I look back over the past year, I am hard pressed to recall one christian album that really registered on my radar as noteworthy. Leeland's sophomore effort was a disappointment. Delirious released what might be their final album to good reviews but painfully little marketplace exposure. I have found myself reverting to older albums in my collection and even replacing old vinyl and cassette copies with CD's. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is precious little innovation in christian music today. When I perused some 'Best Of..' lists there was hardly a group that I would have crossed the street to check out. I know I'm an old fogey...but when did God's people become so dull and unadventurous? Quality music like IONA doesn't sell so their catalog is virtually impossible to obtain here in the States. I hardly listen to christian radio anymore because it's become unlistenable...mostly worship by numbers and non-descript love songs that sound like any artist could have sung them. While I enjoy Natalie Grant, Casting Crowns and Mercy Me - I find much of what I hear to be derivative and cliched.
Here's hoping for something better in 2009....

What a day!

I have to admit - that this Christmas day was not the highlight of the holiday for me.
I had been fighting off a cold for the past few days - well yesterday the flood gates opened and although I was able to cook a full turkey dinner for 5 adults and 5 children, I was miserable most of the time doing it. Added to that I managed to block the sink and waste disposal unit with potato peelings. Then after having taken the bird out of the oven, I managed to have the oven door come apart in my hands!
We sat down to eat and by all accounts the food was good and tasty - it was hard for me to tell. Shortly after lunch I took myself off to bed listening to my Christmas present - "The Cafe Carlyle Session" by Christopher Cross. When I awoke my wife and father-in-law had fixed the oven, unplugged the sink and even managed to secure the front door....
After watching "Rocky Balboa" (excellent movie!!) I had one more mishap to recount. I divested the bird of all its meat and put the carcass into a large saucepan and proceeded to boil some stock. Reaching for another saucepan, to move it, I was unaware that the handle had become blazing hot - you got it....I grabbed it and promptly burnt my hand. I spent the next hour babying my wound with copious amounts of aloe vera gel!!
I'm having a better day today - thank-you!