The timeline of how we see other people's Christmas decorations

• From the day after Thanksgiving to Dec 25: "Those Christmas lights are great!"
• Dec 26-31: silence
• Jan 1-7: "Guess it's time to take the lights down buddy."
• Jan 8-14: "Seriously, they still have their lights up?"
• Jan 15-21: "Hey you weirdos - Christmas was LAST YEAR!!"
• Jan 22-31: "There should be a city ordinance and fees for people like that!"
• Feb & March: Stunned silence. Burst of laughter or slow shaking back and forth of head. Possibly includes a phone pic sent to your friends accompanied by "Can you believe this?!?"
• April to Sept: "What - are you just leaving them up so you don't have to do any work next year? Ghheezz...the laziness of some people"
• Oct: Silently to yourself, "Maybe leaving them up was a good idea"
• Nov 1 till Thanksgiving: "One holiday at a time people!"

Rinse and repeat

It should be noted that the "silence" of Dec 26-31 represents those who are taking down their decorations during that time.

What Christmas is all about...

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
- 1 John 4:9-12

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness - John 1:14

Some free Christmas music for you!

Last year our awesome worship team at New Life Lincoln Park recorded a Christmas CD for our church family. It is incredibly well done and a great download for your next couple days of festivities. Though obviously biased, our fam has been jamming out to it in the car the last few days and love it!

Here's the link to download it for FREE: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

It's completely for free however in the spirit of Noisetrade if you'd like to make a Christmas donation to New Life Lincoln Park then just CLICK HERE. While following the instructions make sure to choose "Lincoln Park" under the locations. Thank you!

Sometimes all you need is an empty box

So apparently a ton of money was spent for Christmas gifts this year (duh). Here's one example:

"According to a news release issued Sunday by comScore, U.S. consumers spent nearly $6 billion during "Cyber Week" which kicked off with "Cyber Monday" on Nov. 28 and ended on Dec. 2."*

6 billion dollars spent...in 1 week! I know there's a bunch of toys in my condo right now that contributed to that amount, plus some clothes and a few gadgets. Many of them haven't even been opened yet. 

Jeannette and I were out of town during the above mentioned huge spending week. My mother-in-law came to our place to watch Baylee and Jaxon. For her time with the kids she didn't contribute anything to the $6 billion.  She just brought a big box. 

Immanuel of Everything

As part of the message Sunday during our Christmas service, our amazing New Life Lincoln Park worship team did this song by Coldplay, "Christmas Lights":

The theme of this song rings true: Christmas is an amazing time of year, but it doesn't always feel amazing.

Along with all of the fun, celebrating, and connecting with others, for some this season was nothing but the opposite.  It was a stressful season: Who all do I buy for? What do I get them? When am I going to have the time? That woman took the last pair, could I take her out before she gets to the register? It was a time that raised old hurts: remembering loss, broken dreams, loneliness, no presents under the tree. And these could create feelings of doubt: What’s the point? Anyone care? Is anyone out there?

Christmas Break - take one

Take a break this week.

Take a day off. Don't work.
If you can't do that, then take a night after work and do no projects.

See a movie.
Look at Christmas lights before they're gone.
Go out to eat.
Watch TV.
Play a game.
Read a book.

Laugh.
Talk.
Chill.
Rest.

You need it.

Yes...you do.

Merry Christmas!!!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas from me, Jeannette, Baylee, Jaxon, and of course...Stitch.  =)

If you didn't see my post yesterday about getting free music from our worship team at New Life Lincoln Park, CLICK HERE to get it now.

"Merry Christmas To All" - CD from our worship team!

I'm really excited about our first Christmas with New Life Lincoln Park!!! 

This is an email I just sent out to our location's community about our Christmas services and explaining how to get some free Christmas music! Our amazing worship team recorded a Christmas album that we are giving away tomorrow, but the link is below so that you can download it now!

Recording the Christmas album

To say our worship team at New Life Lincoln Park is amazing would be an understatement of an understatement. So many great voices and talented musicians, and all with hearts focused on Jesus. 

For Christmas this year they have taken it upon themselves to record an album to give away to our congregation! What a cool gift! I was there last night during one of the recording sessions and was again blown away by their talent. 

Here's a few clips of them recording, which are also a teaser to what will be on the album. Come out on Christmas at 10am to be part of our service and you'll get a copy of the album for free!

The worst Christmas program ever...

...includes what?

Hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner. So I'm looking for some input from whomever will offer it: 

When you think of Christmas programs/services that churches put on - what makes them just plain bad?

What doesn't make for a good Christmas program? 

As I'm thinking through things for Christmas this year - I'm really curious what people will share. Please be honest - and please don't bash/critique someone's opinion. =)

Leave a comment below. Thanks!

Little Drummer Boy

Great rendition here by Jimmy Fallon & Jack Black:



This song has always been one of my favorite Christmas tunes. Its lyrics succinctly stating the human condition:

We are all poor.
We have no worthy gifts to bring.

And yet the baby came for us.

And that is the beauty of the gospel.

Santa Driscoll

Mark Driscoll, the founding pastor of Mars Hill in Seattle, wrote this blog entry for the Washington Post: "What we tell our kids about Santa"

Though I still lean toward allowing for Santa while the kids are as little as ours (1yr & 4yrs), his is probably the most fair & gracious take on the subject.  I recommend the read.

Your thoughts on Santa?

Christmas isn't about giving

Christmas shopping isn't so bad. I listen to an audio book while I'm waiting in line. I do multiple laps around Sam's Club while I'm there so that I can have multiple takes at the samples, hence a free lunch. I sit at my laptop and click a few links for what's left. What's all the stress about?

Christmas Shopping

Christmas shopping isn't so bad. I listen to an audio book while I'm waiting in line. I do multiple laps around Sam's Club while I'm there so that I can have multiple takes at the samples, hence a free lunch. I sit at my laptop and click a few links for what's left. What's all the stress about?

I confess, I'm a gift person. Like buying gifts for people, getting them things I know they want. I'm excited about giving things to Jeannette this year. Have to still go shopping for Baylee for a couple things - which is always fun. Just watching her open things is worth buying her stuff. But I confess further, I love getting gifts also. In fact, I probably get kid-excited, still making out a Christmas list. I find no shame in this - because the truth is: Christmas is about receiving!

That's right - I said it, "Christmas is about receiving."

At its deepest, corest reality - Christmas is about what we receive, not what we give. For what is Christmas but a celebration of Jesus' birth - He was given to us. I did not earn Him or His love, I do nothing to gain more of Him but freely accept Him - for He was given to me out of the depth of the Father's love for me.

Excited about the gifts I receive, I'll remember that He was given to me.
Excited about the gifts I'll give, I'll remember the love in which He was given to me.