5 Things with Only 5 Weeks Left in 2012

1. We had a wonderful thanksgiving in New York City.  That is one beautiful city, with so much to do and so little time.  It was especially nice to be there as the Christmas season was kicking off, seeing all the Christmas lights going up and getting only a mild taste of winter.  A few snow flurries on Saturday morning while we were walking around the 9/11 Memorial were just enough to let us say we saw snow and not so much that it became nasty weather to walk through.

2. The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall was absolutely amazing.  The music, dancing and singing were great, but the best part was the end.  They presented the true Christmas story with as much passion, beauty and pageantry as you could imagine.  It was the best presentation of the birth of Christ that I have ever seen.  Live camels and sheep, Kings and shepherds bowing before the baby Jesus and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” made it a great show of the true meaning of Christmas.  If I’m ever there around Christmas again, I’m absolutely going to see the Rockettes!

3. Going in for my second knee surgery later this week, on Wednesday morning.  The right knee is doing pretty well so far.  I’ve played golf and walked NYC without much pain or any complications so I think everything is going to be good.  The left knee is definitely ready because I can feel the difference between the two now.  Ready to get this behind me.

ORHS Band

Marching on Central Park West

4.  The only potential downers to Thanksgiving Day were the football games.  Can’t believe the way the Horns played and, unfortunately, the Cowboys played just as would be expected.  But even that couldn’t keep us from being excited about seeing the Oak Ridge Band march at Macy’s.  We were in bleachers beside Central Park, between 70th and 71st streets, near the beginning of the parade route.  It was amazing to see the floats, balloons and celebrities.  But the highlight was without doubt watching the War Eagle Band strut their stuff down Central Park West.  They were awesome and we were all so excited we could hardly contain ourselves.

 

 

5. This  will be my 20th Christmas at Spring Creek.  I’m excited about it, but it also means that the challenge to preach at Christmas is that much harder.  There are only a few passages that speak to the Christmas story directly and so trying to be creative and fresh at Christmas can be a challenge when you’ve been at one church as long as I have.  I look back at my notes over the years, keeping track of all my messages, and realize that my only responsibility is to tell the story again, with passion and truth.  Reminds me of a song, “I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story, for some have never heard the message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.”

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5 Things with Only 5 Weeks Left in 2012

1. We had a wonderful thanksgiving in New York City.  That is one beautiful city, with so much to do and so little time.  It was especially nice to be there as the Christmas season was kicking off, seeing all the Christmas lights going up and getting only a mild taste of winter.  A few snow flurries on Saturday morning while we were walking around the 9/11 Memorial were just enough to let us say we saw snow and not so much that it became nasty weather to walk through.

2. The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall was absolutely amazing.  The music, dancing and singing were great, but the best part was the end.  They presented the true Christmas story with as much passion, beauty and pageantry as you could imagine.  It was the best presentation of the birth of Christ that I have ever seen.  Live camels and sheep, Kings and shepherds bowing before the baby Jesus and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” made it a great show of the true meaning of Christmas.  If I’m ever there around Christmas again, I’m absolutely going to see the Rockettes!

3. Going in for my second knee surgery later this week, on Wednesday morning.  The right knee is doing pretty well so far.  I’ve played golf and walked NYC without much pain or any complications so I think everything is going to be good.  The left knee is definitely ready because I can feel the difference between the two now.  Ready to get this behind me.

ORHS Band

Marching on Central Park West

4.  The only potential downers to Thanksgiving Day were the football games.  Can’t believe the way the Horns played and, unfortunately, the Cowboys played just as would be expected.  But even that couldn’t keep us from being excited about seeing the Oak Ridge Band march at Macy’s.  We were in bleachers beside Central Park, between 70th and 71st streets, near the beginning of the parade route.  It was amazing to see the floats, balloons and celebrities.  But the highlight was without doubt watching the War Eagle Band strut their stuff down Central Park West.  They were awesome and we were all so excited we could hardly contain ourselves.

 

 

5. This  will be my 20th Christmas at Spring Creek.  I’m excited about it, but it also means that the challenge to preach at Christmas is that much harder.  There are only a few passages that speak to the Christmas story directly and so trying to be creative and fresh at Christmas can be a challenge when you’ve been at one church as long as I have.  I look back at my notes over the years, keeping track of all my messages, and realize that my only responsibility is to tell the story again, with passion and truth.  Reminds me of a song, “I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story, for some have never heard the message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.”

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5 Things in Week 45 of 2012

1. Feeling pretty good this week after my surgery last Wednesday.  They removed two loose pieces of cartilage from my right knee and cleaned up a lot of other “wear and tear” damage around the knee.  I’m glad I was able to stand and preach Sunday without pain and everything feels fine today.  I’m still doing some stretching, regaining range of motion, and working on strengthening my knee.  The ice pack is my friend.  🙂  Hope to be back on the golf course by the end of the week.  Thanks to Dr. Carl Cannon of Woodlands Sports Medicine for some solid work!

2. Big week in politics and our nation with the presidential vote tomorrow (Tuesday).  It will be interesting to see how close the polls are to the actual results.  Will anyone remember the poll reports once the vote is actually counted?  What should we say if a poll has completely missed the results?  I think they should have to report accuracy data for the next four years every time an organization publishes a poll.  For instance, if a CNN poll is off by 5% this year, then every CNN poll for the next four years should be accompanied by that fact.  It would help us gauge the veracity/accuracy of a polling organization and also discourage them from fudging their numbers to create a narrative.

3. Sunday is Veterans Day and we will recognize the holiday at Spring Creek by receiving a special offering for the Wounded Warriors Project.  This Sunday, in addition to your regular offering, you can contribute to the Wounded Warriors Project by designating “mission” offering.  All money designated for “missions” this Sunday will be sent directly to the Wounded Warriors.

4. Went to “Here Comes the Boom” this weekend with Julie.  It’s an enjoyable movie with some funny parts.  It’s not put together really well, the story doesn’t exactly flow.  I have a feeling there must’ve been a lot left in the editing booth because at a couple of points the story skips ahead and you feel like there was no transition.  So it’s not the funniest movie around but it is enjoyable.  Probably a rental or Netflix movie at best.

5. Going to Austin this weekend to see our youngest daughter Courtney and go to the UT/Iowa St game.  It’s amazing how cheap the tickets get when the team isn’t doing so well.  Though I am glad both that Texas beat the Red Raiders this week and that I purchased my tickets before the game started.  My guess is the price went up Saturday night.  We’ll be back Saturday night to get rested up for Sunday.  If you’re around I hope you’ll make plans to be at Spring Creek this Sunday morning. It’ll be great.

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