2013 Christmas Music Marathon Day 3

2013 Christmas Music Marathon Day 2

This week-end is traditionally the biggest shopping week-end of the year.  Shoppers spend countless hours walking through stores in search of gifts for friends, family, and loved ones.  In their search for the perfect gift at the right sale price, they often fail to spend a few minutes to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.  2000 years ago God Almighty created the perfect gift for all of mankind and presented it to us in the form of a child.  A child that would grow into a man.  A child that would die on a cross.  A child that would rise from the grave and give us all victory over death.  Still, few people walking the streets of Bethlehem that night knew the importance of the event that was taking place in a manger.  Take a few moments, and take a walk through Bethlehem.

Skywatch Friday-Christmas Music Marathon Season IV

 Welcome, welcome, welcome to Skywatch Friday and Season IV of the Christmas Music Marathon.  Starting today I will post at least one video and maybe an inspirational thought with the hope of helping you focus on the true meaning of Christmas and celebrate the birth of our Savior.  So, let's get started.

We celebrate the Fourth of July by filling the night sky with wonderful fireworks displays.  We take great pride in the freedoms that we enjoy because brave men and women have given their lives to protect those values that we hold dear to us.  There is one freedom that even the sacrifice of millions of Americans is multiple conflicts cannot resolve and that is the freedom from sin.
The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." and "there are none righteous, no not one." The Scriptures also remind us that "the wages of sin are death".  We can have victory over sin and death.  On a cold winter night God filled the night sky with the light from a star that guided shepherds and wise men alike to the alter of the Savior.  Only through the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ can we have victory of sin and death.  Through Christ we can experience an abundant life and eternal life.  Glory to God in the Highest!

Break Time

I am going to take a short break from posting over the next few days.  As you know Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  That means that Driller's Place annual Christmas Music Marathon is about to begin.  Each year, on the day after Thanksgiving, I start posting inspirational thoughts and Christmas music every day until Christmas.  I've been known to go a few days longer.  With that said, I've got to spend some time searching for new videos, deciding which of the classics to post and generally gather my thoughts for the season.  So,  if you like celebrating Christmas, and you like inspirational Christmas music, new and old, then stop by here during the holiday season.  I think you will like what you see and hear.  Here's a sample.





So mark your calendars for "Black Friday".  We will be shopping for some of the best music of the season that points us to the true meaning of Christmas and celebrates the birth of a Savior.  See you next week.

Wordless Wednesday

Autumn Leaves Final Entry
Bella Vista/Bentonville, AR

 

  

 

Ruby Tuesday Too

Final Bloom of the Season

I picked this bloom last week.  It is the final bloom from a special rose bush in our yard.  This variety was my mother's favorite and the bush came from their home, after dad passed away.  I've also taken this opportunity to do some experimenting with photography.  I took some family photos the other day for friends.  I rented a new lens for the task.  It is a 24-70 f2.8 and is great for portrait work.  I really like this lens and hope to own one in the future.  Recently, I did purchase the latest version of PhotoShop Elements (version 12 to be specific).  I shot this image in camera raw and Elements will allow me to open the raw files and work on them.  I don't understand everything about the meaning of "camera raw", I just know that the files are larger, so they contain more information than the typical jpeg file that most images are captured in.  At any rate, I'm pretty sure that this feature will keep me entertained for some time to come.  I will say this, unless you plan to print pretty large photos or you intend to turn your hobby into a profession, I'm not convinced that camera raw is necessary.  If you only post your images on the web, I can almost guarantee that you don't need to be in camera raw.  Right now, I am on the fence as to whether or not I need to be in camera raw.  One thing for certain, I'm going to need bigger SD cards if I continue to shoot in this mode.

Glorious Unfolding

Last night my wife and I attended to the Steven Curtis Chapman concert at our church.  Well, we got to see most of it.  My wife volunteered to help prepare meals for the artists and crew while I volunteered to shuttle them back and forth to the hotel as needed.  Both of us had a great day.  Here a a few images from the concert.

There were three artists, Jason Gray, Laura Story and Steven Curtis Chapman.  They were wonderful.

Jason Gray opened the concert.  This is a really gifted young man with a message.  I got to spend a little time with him and I really like this guy.  You need to listen to and purchase his music.

 

Jason was joined onstage by Steven Curtis Chapman.  I really liked how all three artists worked together and shared music as a team...not just three separate artists.  It was really enjoyable.

 Laura Story was the second artist and her music comes directly from her life and her heart.  Again, if you haven't heard this young lady, you need to get acquainted with her music.

 The headliner was Steven Curtis Chapman.  He has been in Contemporary Christian Music over twenty years and is still putting out great music with a message.

The tour was appropriately named "Glorious Unfolding".  While that is the title of Chapman's new album, last night was indeed a Glorious Unfolding of music and worship.  Like I said, you need to get to know these folks, so here is a sample of their music.  Enjoy!