Christmas Music Marathon - Day 31

It's Christmas Eve Sunday!!! Today people all over the world will gather in churches to celebrate the birth of our Savior. They have worked all year, bought gifts, sent cards, traveled across the country to see family, and now it is time to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. A Savior is born. The Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Emanuel has come to bring peace to the hearts of men. May you and your family experience the joy of the season. Have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

2017 Christmas Music Marathon - Day 25

We interrupt this Christmas Music Marathon to bring  you the following news. Our oldest grand daughter is engaged!

The happy couple have been dating for three years and now have committed to spend their lives as one. We love them, pray for them, and look forward to watching where God takes them and how He uses them.

Okay, back to the marathon. This engagement has brought so much joy to so many people it is only fitting to sing about Him who brought Joy to the World. Have a blessed week.

 

2016 Christmas Music Marathon - Day 21

"Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)
In the heart of the believer there is no greater source of joy than knowing Christ. He is the fulfillment of God's promise. He is our Redeemer and the Savior of our souls. In His own words, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) Have a blessed day.

Inspiration Thursday

There is a television show called "Finding Your Roots" in which celebraties find out about their genealogy. Previously, there was a program called "Who Do You Think You Are?" that did the same thing. Genealogy can be a fascinating subject but I fear that I may be a little too impatient to get too deeply involved my family history. However I do know that there are a number of teachers in my family tree, and several of my ancestors that had a gift of writing and poetry. There have been several strong women in my family. My great grandmother, Ida May Kemp Roberts, and one of my great aunts were both talented writers and poets. 

 Ida May Kemp Roberts

Much of their poetry focused on the Christian journey in this life. While going through some family archives to send a couple of photos to one of my second cousins, I came upon one of my great grandmother's prose. It reminds us that every day the life of a Christian is not going to be filled with happiness. We must endure the troubles of this world. If our Savior suffered death on the cross, we should not expect to live a life void of difficulty. However, in the darkest days, we must remember that God is in control. Here is her view on the "Mission of Suffering".  Click on image to enlarge. Have a blessed week.

2015 Christmas Music Marathon Day 28

The house is decorated and there is excitement in the air. Tonight we will attend a candlelight Lord's Supper at church, then we will come home, read the Christmas story and open our gifts. It will be a good time together as a family.

I do enjoy spending some time around the tree admiring the ornaments that my wife has selected over the years. Most of these ornaments are over a decade old. The little beaded wreaths are much older. 

One of the most recent additions to our Christmas decorations is this lantern. Not to worry, the candle is electric, but the flicker of it's flame is very realistic. It serves to remind me of the Light of the World whose birth we celebrate. As I said earlier, there is great anticipation in our house on Christmas Eve. I believe it was much different in a manger in Bethlehem.

Joseph and Mary had traveled there to be taxed. Joseph had brought his wife in order to protect her from the ridicule that she may have faced in Nazareth because of her pregnancy. While God had visited both of them personally and told them what was about to take place, I doubt if either of these new parents truly understood the magnitude of this "O Holy Night".

It is only because of that holy night that any of us have any hope of eternal life. It is only because of that most holy night that any of us have a real purpose in this life. May the Spirit of Christmas fill your heart and your home this year and may the Savior make His presence in your life very real this coming year. Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

2015 Christmas Music Marathon Day 16

I think this is a relatively rare Santa ornament. I've had it a few years now and what makes it unusual is that it is a construction themed Santa. Most Santas have toys surrounding him or have fishing tackle and other popular themes as the basis for the ornament. Being an architect, this little fellow naturally caught my eye. One can only imagine all of the things  that Santa and his elves can build with the proper tools. Life and construction share some common traits. In order to build a good building, it takes a proper foundation. The foundation must resist the ravages of freezing and thawing. It must be strong enough to support the weight of the structure and when properly anchored to the foundation, the structure can withstand severe external forces, such as wind and rain, with minimum damage that can be repaired. A good life is not about stuff, but it requires a good foundation. There is no better cornerstone that Jesus Christ. Born in a manger to a family of little note to the world around them, He was the Son of God and the foundation upon which every life must be built in order to withstand the external forces that attack our values daily. Christmas is about the celebration of the birth of a Savior. Those who have never invited Him into their lives really have very little to celebrate beyond their own gift exchanges. Those who know Him as their Lord, have an eternity to celebrate. In our house there is Joy.  Have a blessed day.

2014 Christmas Music Marathon - Day 25

O Holy Night

One of the most iconic Christmas songs ever written is O Holy Night.  It has been recorded by virtually every well known vocalist in the music industry over the last 60 years.  This music marathon would not be complete without including what I consider to be the best arrangement of this song ever recorded.  David Phelps gives this song the power and majesty that it deserves.  Enjoy.

Christmas Music Marathon Day 29

 

Heading into the final week-end before Christmas, I wanted to share my two all time favorite music videos.  The first one is just the coolest thing ever.  I would love to be in a major city mall during the Christmas shopping season when a choral flash mob breaks into the Hallelujah Chorus.
The second video is my all time favorite arrangement of O Holy Night.  I know this song has been recorded by virtually every artist in the industry and many of them do a very good job of singing, but, in my humble opinion, no one does it better than David Phelps.  You just need to put the headphones on and prepare to have your spine tingled.  Merry Christmas and have a blessed week-end.

2012 Christmas Music Marathon Day 15

Earlier in the 2012 Christmas Music Marathon we asked the question "Mary, Did You Know?"  We can only wonder if Mary comprehended what was happening to her as a result of her obedience to God.  She and Joseph surely endured a great deal of criticism for their situation.  In fact those close to Joseph counseled him to walk away from her.  In their minds she had obviously been unfaithful.  But through their relationship with God, Joseph and Mary remained faithful to the Creator and to each other.  Joseph knew the child that Mary was carrying wasn't his child, and I think they both knew it was God's child.  All of us are God's creation and deserve a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  At some point in our lives we can decide if we simply want to be one of God's creations, or one of God's children.  There is a difference.



No, this child wasn't Joseph's child, it was God's child. Jesus, what a wonderful child. Have a blessed week-end.

Christmas Music Marathon Day 13

Homemade Wreaths

Ruby Tuesday - Christmas Music Marathon Day 21

Last week I posted the three trees that are decorated by my wife (and Santa elf). each year.  Today we will take a closer look at a few of the ornaments that adorn the trees.  Here we go.

This first ornament is a ceramic that my wife painted many years ago.  It continues to be one of my favorites.

This little engine was placed on the wreath at my father's memorial service last December.  Dad worked for the Frisco Railroad for 42 years and loved every minute of it.  Trains will always be a special part of my life.

These photo ornaments are on my favorite tree in the house.  You'll have to scroll back to last week's Ruby Tuesday to get the whole story.

The ornaments above and below are from the table top tree in the study.  It has an outdoor theme.  Since I am an architect by profession, the construction worker below was the closet thing my wife could find to represent what I do.

Back to the table top tree.  The Santa above is a part of the display at the base of the "Great Outdoors" tree.  The fishing reel is one I bought my dad over 45 years ago.  It is a collectors item now.  The bear is wearing an OU helmet.  Just look at the blog sidebar to see why that is relevant.

Finally, the ornament below is from the big tree in the living room.  This tree is filled with large, shiny ornaments.  Of course, the tree is 9 feet tall and nearly 6 feet in diameter at the base, so it can handle larger decorations.  Well, I guess that sums up the ornament tour for this year.  Merry Christmas all.

Okay I can't wait any longer.  I was going to save this song for Christmas Eve, but I know most of you will be doing other things that day will not be able to stop by.  Here is another song from, perhaps the best voice in Christian music, David Phelps.  You only think you've heard O Holy Night.  Wait til you hear this.  Turn up the sound and enjoy.



If you are now giving your computer a standing ovation, that's a normal reaction.
Now, you have heard O Holy Night the way it should be sung.  Merry Christmas.

Christmas Music Marathon - Day 8

One of my favorite artists in all of Christian music is David Phelps. He has a voice that is unmatched in power and range. Here is the title cut from his first Christmas album, Joy Joy. Enjoy.