"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is possibly the most irritating of all the Christmas songs for the shear numbers of it. But it can also be fun. Watch this video:
[Thanks to Dawn at Because I Said So]
This Christmas, I'd like to give to you a special gift. Here is an excerpt from my first small book--Something Special at Leonard's Inn. This chapter was originally written to read as a retelling of the Christmas story before the gifting began. I hope you are blessed by the reading. Enjoy.
Leonard’s Inn
Leonard and Sarah were anxious about the taxing. Sure it would bring in extra business for the struggling inn, and how they needed the extra business. But along with all the extra business came the beggars, liars, and thieves. Bethlehem was filling up with more and more people claiming kinship to King David. Oh well, Leonard decided that he would make the best of the hectic situation.
“I’m telling you, Leonard, you should do just as your cousin Reuben is, out on Jerusalem Road,” Sarah was always giving advice. “ You will be able to weather the long dry spell to follow Caesar’s proclamation if you will simply double, or better yet triple, your prices.”
“We have been over this, Sarah. I will not stoop to gouging my kinsmen with unfair pricing,” Leonard was shaking his head in that fatherly way that Sarah had grown to love and to hate over the years of their marriage. “We will have plenty simply by sectioning off the common room for families and travelers. And they will all pay a fair price. No more; no less. You see how the inn has been filling up. We will be out of space before the night is over. The Lord will provide for the dry spells as they come.”
With the decree from Caesar Augustus, people from all over the Empire were flooding into the city of David to be registered and taxed according to their wealth, family size, and age. Leonard was almost prophetic in his prediction of space availability. He overheard the last two travelers saying that they were surprised that they were paying regular rates for the last two beds in town. Other hostellers were completely full although they had been charging two and three times the normal price for a mat on the floor. They had a friend that was paying seven times the going rate out on Jerusalem Road just to have a blanket strung up between his family and an old couple from Bethany. That Reuben, he is a shrewd one, Leonard smiled to himself, shaking his head in bewilderment.
He was just finishing the sign that said “No Room” when he saw them out the window. The young couple couldn’t have been married long. They were young. They young man appeared to be no more than twenty or twenty-two. He led a shabby-looking donkey that was carrying the youth’s wife who was “great with child.” Leonard’s heart went out to them. He could tell they were weary from traveling. He opened the door, the newly-painted sign hanging absently from his hand.
“Sir, I was going to see if you had any rooms left for my small family, but I see that you, too, have no space available,” the young man’s voice was tired and resigned, but he began to turn away to head on down the street.
“Wait! Young man, your wife cannot travel any farther in her condition. The streets are filled with thieves and robbers. The night is quickly approaching.” Leonard seemed to be beside himself, but for some reason he could not explain, he felt the need to help this young family. “Wait here just inside the door. I will see if there is not some space for you.”
Leaving the donkey tied to the post outside, the young man lifted his wife down and followed the inn keeper inside. With the door closed to the hustle and bustle of a city swelled to five times its size because of the registry, the poor family leaned heavily against the wall and one another as Leonard stepped to the back of the house. When he returned he found Sarah showing them out.
“ . . . I wish we could accommodate you, but as you can see, there just is no room. I am sure that Lemuel down the street—”
“Sarah!” Leonard’s voice fairly bellowed from the doorway that led to the animal stalls behind the inn. “You will not cast these poor travelers out while I am still in this household!” Taking his wife by the arm and pulling her aside, Leonard lowered his voice, but not the stern reproach it held, “On a night like this, you know that Lemuel will take even the cloak off of this poor man’s back. He might even confiscate the wretched animal they came in on. You can see that they are in no shape to travel further, and I have Daniel clearing a space out back. It is only a stable, but it will be out of the wind and away from the criminals who have made their way to our village to rob travelers of what is left after the likes of Reuben and Lemuel get finished.” To the young couple Leonard said, “My name is Leonard. You are welcome to a space in the stable out back to stay while you are here to register.”
“Thank you, Leonard. Yours is the first kindness we have seen since arriving in the town of my forefathers. My name is Joseph, and as you can see my wife, Mary, is near the time that she will give birth to the child,” the young man reached for his purse as he spoke.
“Put that away,” Leonard said, “what I offer is no more than a meager space in the stable with straw to make you comfortable. How can I charge money for the use of a barn stall?” Sarah glared after them as Leonard led the couple around to the stable behind the inn. Mary silently smiled her gratitude.
The noise in the street had started to subside when Sarah was called upon to help deliver the young woman, Mary’s, baby. As she was hard at work she noticed the two men, Leonard and the vagrant Joseph, standing to the side looking awkward. “You, father. Make yourself useful. Put fresh straw in the manger. It is not a grand cradle, but it will do for this night.” She turned her attention to her own husband, “And you, inn keeper who gives away lodging to any and all passers-by, go into our quarters. There are some soft cloths we can use to protect this new baby when he comes. Bring them to me, and be quick about it!” 
Wrested from their wonderment at the birth of a child, the two men turned to the tasks assigned. When Leonard returned, Sarah was cleaning the young boy-child and getting him ready for the swaddles he had brought from the inn. The baby seemed to glow. Leonard knew that there was something different about this family. He knew that he had done something special that night.
I've set up a poll question at Mister Poll. Click on over and choose your favorite.
Here's the question: Who's your favorite Scrooge?
If you don't like all the choices--or have a better one, leave a comment in the here. The poll runs from 12/20-12/25 so hurry on over to vote.
Our second Angel Food distribution was successful (sorry no video this month). Here are the highlights:
On a side note, because the delivery was later, I had a chance to get out in the snow with my family (pictures to follow--after they come in, so don't look tomorrow). My blushing bride took up an entire roll of film of the progeny making snow angels, tossing snowballs, and just generally having fun in the inch of white stuff that covered the ground when we woke up this morning. The baby loved tromping around in the snow. Since we're supposed to get lots more before it stops in the middle of the night, we may be able to get a snow buddy out of it before we're through.
It's beginning to look a lot like . . .
champions, Coca-Cola®. The curve-less bottle brings you nine ounces of refreshing soda that will remind you of the real thing when it was the real thing. I’m sure that this is the pre-New Coke fiasco of the eighties. 
John Smulo has started another meme. This time he wants to know about our favorite Christmas movies. I figure, this is right in my bag. Plus, in the spirit of giving, the rules don't require me to specifically target anyone who once was my friend, but lets only those who want to play along. Read the rules:
So, here we go . . .
# 4. The Santa Claus(e) (I'm almost willing to put all three here, they're all great).
# 3. Scrooge (no, not the Bill Murray comedy Scrooged, but the musical with a sad performance by Albert Finney as the title character, still a great movie).
# 2. It's a Wonderful Life (I always feel like Christmas Season isn't really upon us until I've viewed this one.). And my . . .
# 1 all-time favorite Christmas movie is . . . White Christmas (can't watch it without a tear creeping into my eye at the end).
According to one article (101 videos at the link), these are the essential Christmas videos for a perfect holiday season:
1. It's a Wonderful Life (click to watch)
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (click to watch)
3. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (click to watch)
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (click to watch)
5. Frosty the Snowman (click to watch)
6. A Christmas Story Movie (click to watch)
What do you think? Any favorites of your own? (maybe I should make a poll!)
[A great big ole seasonal tip o' the hat to Bill Crider]
I thought I'd try the poll option added to Blogger fun things to add. The first week-long poll was about Christmas songs. According to the results the one vote was for "Silent Night." I believe that somehow I hit a vote button, so even the one vote was invalid. For future notice, if you'd like to participate in polls--they'll be over in the side bar.
Happy Holidays everyone. (See, it's okay to say, "Happy Holidays!")
planned for today. What makes matters worse is that he's been looking forward to this birthday party and planning it (starring none other than Lightening McQueen of Cars fame) for about five months!
The one on the left is the one I bought for Hannah. The one on the right is Hannah's gift to me. The only difference is I got gyped out of a platter (Hannah got the better deal), or I got the better deal because I ended up with the one that has the platter included.
Last year I had the opportunity to "elf" myself. This year the videos are bigger and better. Click for this video, and then for this one. Let 'em load. You'll be glad you did.
I wanted to share an old song that I really loved about twenty years ago, "I Thank You, Lord" but couldn't find the lyrics. So, here's one I hadn't heard for years until about two weeks ago:
on and on--here's just one of the many things that I'm thankful for:
Our first distribution was on Saturday, November 17, 2007. Everything went smoothly and we had a great time ministering to our community.
The point is they want to help you get your book in print. Many of these houses got their start by doing cookbook fundraising projects for a variety of groups. They are the publisher of choice for many a preacher who thinks he has something to say to the world. In defense of the Self-Publishers I have checked into, I must say that they do not sugarcoat the necessity of the author being the one front-line fighter for their own book. For a price most of these houses have a package deal that will give you a jump-start on the marketing of your book.
publishing which was birthed out of the technological revolution is that you can print only one book or five hundred or five thousand (discount pricing applies to bulk orders), or you can even sell downloadable copies of your book to save your customers money. Again there are packages that include marketing aids available for a fee.
r family member (my dad is a better PR man for my first books than I am). False humility often grasps new authors. If your book is really worth reading, tell people.
Over the last three months I’ve been touting a new program that seemed like a really good idea – review a book, get another to review. What a great concept. The original idea was to help ministers and ministers-in-training to build their libraries while providing their opinions about the books they received. About a month ago, the review site just stopped updating the site – no new reviews, overviews, or blog entries.
Today, I got the word. The staff at Pastor Resources.com (part of the JCA Company) sent me this in an e-mail: “Pastor Resources has suspended our review programs indefinitely. We apologize for any and all inconveniences and frustrations. We are sincerely sorry. We thank you for your support of the program and one day we hope to reinstate the venture.”
So, I guess what this means is that you’ll just have to look for my unmitigated opinions on reading at Book ‘em Benj-O. Until the time that they are able to start the program up again, you can still click here to see if anything is worth your while at Pastor Resources.
Here’s the scoop on the new giveaway at Challies.com: First prize is 40 copies (count ‘em 40) of R.C. Sproul’s The Truth of the Cross. The catch–the books are not for sale, but for the winner to use as giveaways (especially for evangelistic purposes). Suggestion: if you win you get 10 copies to give away at church, 10 to give to family members, 10 for Christmas gifts, and 10 to save for later opportunities. The winner also gets one copy of Jesus the Evangelist by Richard Phillips.
Second and Third prizes are one copy of Jesus the Evangelist and admission for two to the 2008 Ligonier Ministries National Conference. Click on the button below for more details.
Barb Orlowski is hard at work doing research for her Doctor of Ministry degree. She is a candidate at A.C.T.S. Seminaries in Canada. Below you will find two request letters from Barb. First is a request outlining the type of people she needs to respond to research polls. The second letter is to pastors who might be helpful in the process as well. Read the notes. Then contact Barb if you can help. Also, if you operate a blog and could help get the word out, Barb would be most appreciative.
Hi Everyone,
I trust that you had a great summer. We enjoyed hiking a lot, especially in the alpine meadows among gorgeous and colorful wild flowers. It was amazing and we were filled with thanksgiving to God. I am back at my research desk and ready to step up the pace of my dissertation investigation. It is time to get the word out and request contributions from participants regarding this stimulating area of research.
The following are two “request for help” letters. I have prepared two questionnaires. One survey is for those who have experienced this situation in their church life and the other is for pastors who have been able to provide comfort and spiritual guidance to those who have come to them for help. If the following criteria describe you, I would welcome your participation in this study.
Thanks so much, Barb Orlowski
Request Letter No. 1
Request for Help for Potential Participants:
Hi Everyone, Sept. 2007
My name is Barb Orlowski. I am on the Doctor of Ministry program at A.C.T.S. Seminaries in Langley, B.C., Canada. In order to conduct the research necessary to complete my dissertation, I could use your help. I am conducting a survey among Christians who have experienced emotional and spiritual distress under authoritarian and controlling church leaders and have recovered from this experience.
Here are the criteria that I am looking for in participants:
1. Christians who have experienced emotional and spiritual distress under authoritarian and controlling church leaders and who have ceased to be associated with those congregations;
2. Christians who subsequently have recognized and processed their spiritual grief and pain and have experienced spiritual recovery;
3. Christians who are willing to share how they have processed their negative experience and have recovered spiritual harmony; those who can share what has happened since this painful episode. Christians who can answer this question: What factors have helped you to restore your confidence in God and His people?
If people feel that they fit the criteria for this study, please contact me.
I will give you further details about this study, and then I will send you the questionnaire along with the consent information. The responses given by those participating will be kept confidential. Your responses will be put in anonymous form and may be kept for further use after the completion of this study.
Thank you for your interest and participation in this study. I appreciate the time and effort that it takes to complete a questionnaire.
In Him, Barb
Barb’s contact email: churchexitersq@telus.net
* Comments and questions are welcome.
· When you respond to this request by emailing me
· *please let me know which site you saw this information. Thanks.
Request Letter No. 2
Request for Help from Pastors:
Greetings, Sept. 2007
I am student enrolled in the A.C.T.S. Doctor of Ministry program in Langley, B.C., Canada. In order to conduct the research necessary to complete my dissertation, I need the assistance of pastoral leaders. I could use your help with my research. I realize that you probably receive frequent requests to fill out surveys, but I would invite you to take a few minutes, complete a questionnaire and return it to me. This would be a significant help.
I am looking for pastors who have endeavored to provide spiritual guidance and help for the following people:
Christians who have experienced emotional and spiritual distress under authoritarian and controlling church leaders and who have ceased to be associated with those congregations.
There are many Christians who have faced the untimely distress of this particular yet widespread phenomenon. Many have simply left the church, while others have made an effort to reintegrate into a local church setting. It has taken courage for them to desire to reconnect with a pastor and seek their assistance in processing their grief and disillusionment with previous church leaders.
I would appreciate hearing how you, as a pastor, have provided spiritual guidance and encouragement for individuals who have faced this type of emotional and spiritual pain at the hands of those that they had trusted as their spiritual leaders. I believe that your insights would provide pertinent and helpful data for this study.
The information you give will be kept confidential. Any use of your responses in my dissertation will be put in anonymous form, but may be kept for further use after the completion of this study. If ever needed, I will ask for your permission to quote you.
Thank you for your interest and participation in this research. I appreciate the time and effort that it takes to complete a questionnaire.
Thanks, Barb Email Address: churchexitersq@telus.net
* Comments and questions are welcome.
· When you respond to this request by emailing me--
· *please let me know which site you saw this information. Thanks.
For all you readers out there: You've got to see this!
I’ve discovered something new — a “blook” tour (blog + book tour = blook tour). And I’m hosting one for debut author Steven Hunt over at Book ‘em Benj-O. If you’re a fan of Christian fiction, private eye novels, or suspense, drop on by and check it out.
ding passes, by handing out groupings with plastic, reusable passes. Now, to simplify matters, since parents with small children don’t get to board first, along with your color group you’ll get a number, and passengers get seated numerically as well as by color.The dead link for the Chazown website (referenced here) is no longer dead. Wait, though. It doesn't take you to the site that had all the interactive tools that feathered so well with the book. Now you are sent to the publisher's page for the book itself. You get a good description of the book and a short bio of Groeschel, but if you want to download the .pdf file of the Chazown Journal you'll be out of luck.
My answers:
The common thread in all my experiences have been family and relationships. These two concepts play a strong part in my experiences. There is a deep-seated need to for approval running through my experiences. I see a great concern when I have not been the crowd-pleaser that I want to be, and equally great jubilation when I have.
Developing the desire to please my audience, I have learned tact and discretion as well as communication skills that have been necessary in the path that lays before (and behind) me.
Finally, Groeschel asks the reader to try to name the next chapter in their life path. Keeping in mind the things I value, the gifts I’ve identified, and the dreams affected by my experience, I’ve come up with the following challenging title for my life’s book:
“Writing the Right Way”
Feel free to answer the questions for yourself, and share your next life chapter title if you wish. Some of the suggestions Groeschel offers as starting points are:
“Making a Difference”
“Starting Over”
“Restoring Brokenness”
“Going for It”
“Taking the Faith Risk”
“Living the Dream”
“Shaping Up”
“Close to God”
What do you think?
They say that necessity is the mother of invention. And apparently the necessity of a mother is inventive. My wife found a news item about one Dawn Meehan who blogs here. The upshot of it is, this mother of (too many) has a knack for writing. Her trip from hell to the grocery store that resulted in an ebay auction gained her huge amounts (HUGE amounts) of attention. According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch story, she is now sought after by the publishing and media industry in the manner of a Benny Hill closing credits scene. Read today's story here.
Take a gander at her blog and see what all the hoopla is about. And if you so feel inclined, check out some of her sponsors.
Many of you have been checking out my post here. I must apologize for the bad link. After I had posted some of the journal entries from my working through Craig Groeschel’s material in Chazown the website for the book and issues disappeared. I do not know whether the Chazown.com website is experiencing issues or if it is permanently defunct. If it reappears I’ll let you know so that you can interact fully with the material, too.
I always love new books--especially free ones. If you click on the button, you will be transported to a site where you can sign up for a drawing for a set of commentaries.
Just a note. The commentaries are from the Reformed school of theology. There will be three names drawn for different prizes:
If you're interested click on the button above.
[HT: Our friends at Pastor Bookshelf]
[Again, you can find this post duplicated at Loom & Wheel Words.]
This is a chart showing my personality type. I've done these kinds of tests before, but it's always good to review.
Others have the same type as me. Here's a sample:
Famous ENFPs
Real ENFP People
Alicia Silverstone - actress (Clueless), fashion model
Andy Kaufman - American entertainer
Andy Rooney - television writer
Bill Cosby - actor, comedian, activist
Bill Moyers - journalist, commentator
Bob Dylan - singer-songwriter, musician
Bus ter Keaton - silent film comic actor
Carol Burnett - comedian
Charles Dickens - English novelist
Dave Thomas - businessman (Wendy's), philanthropist
Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geise) - writer, cartoonist
Franz Joseph Haydn - composer
James Dobson - evangelical psychologist
Joseph Campbell - writer, orator
King Jordan - deaf president of Gallaudet University
Lewis Grizzard - humorist
Martin Short - Canadian actor, comedian
Paul Harvey - radio broadcaster
Paul Robeson - actor, athlete, singer, writer, activist
Phil Donahue - TV personality
Regis Philbin - TV personality
Robin Williams - actor
Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) - writer
Sandra Bullock - actress
Sinbad - actor, comedian
Upton Sinclair - author, investigative journalist
Will Rogers - Comedian
Fictional ENFPs (Characters)
Ariel - The Little Mermaid
Balki - Perfect Strangers
Dr. Doug Ross - ER
Lara Antipova - Doctor Zhivago
Steve Urkel - Family Matters
Will - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
[HT: Kevin Bussey]
It's time to make an adjustment to an assessment. A day or two after I posted this, I got an email from the company. Here's a snip from customer representative Brenda R:
I apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. I have placed an
order for a lid that you will receive within 2-3 weeks. I apologize for the
service center giving you incorrect information. The part could have been
ordered direct at any time. in fact the lid is an inexpensive part and that
is why they most likely did not wish to sell it for such a small amount.
[This post is also published at Loom & Wheel Words, a blog where I address more philosophical matters. Occasionally there will be a post that touches on the emphases of both of my personal blogs. If you are interested in the deeper topics that I might explore, you should click on the link to the side and visit my other blog.]
Craig Groeschel insists that your ultimate Life Vision, your Chazown, is tied indelibly to t
hree areas of your life: your Core Values, your Spiritual Gifts, and your past experiences. Today we’ll deal with my response to the issue of Core Values. Core Values are those things that strike you at your heart (your core). They are the ideals that make you stand up and take notice. There are two questions which can help you arrive at what those core values might be.
First, what really angers me? What makes your righteousness get indignated? For me it amounts to three or four things (in no particular order, but even as I think about it to write these things, I begin to see red). Hurting children. When people take advantage of children in a way that God never intended, when children suffer needlessly because of government waste or parental ignorance, my dander flares.
Lying. So often I find that when people play on my good nature and then I find out they aren’t truthful with me, my head aches. Why would someone lie? To me or to anyone, why? I’ve known those people who would tell a lie when the truth would be more expedient, but lying—truthlessness—is their nature. Why?
False Pride. I think perhaps the one thing that makes me froth at the mouth most is this insane—inane—habit that especially believers in Christ exhibit. So many people are ready to offer prayer and advice for others in need, but then there are entire families filled with those who need (they really, really need) prayer or help and refuse to allow the Family of God to bear the burden with them. Who cares if it “looks like” you have a flaw? How presumptuous is that? That we might never ever need a friend.
And then, the second question: What brings me bliss? What shouts to you, “PARTEEE”? What gets your toes to tappin’, your mouth to rappin’ and your whole heart flappin’? Again, I found three standouts in the crowd. Presents. I suppose the reason that I love Christmas so much—aside from the fact that it’s when we celebrate the first coming of the Christ—is that our tradition suggests, no insists, no it outright requires, me to give gifts. I love giving gifts—especially those unexpected gifts that cost little, but mean a mint. One of my favorite things is to catch my beloved blushing bride off-guard with the perfect birthday, anniversary, or Christmas gift. But best yet was the time that I was able to sneak in the china cabinet when she was out of town. I even displayed the chine for when she returned from her trip to Grandma’s.
Laughter. Nothing makes my chest (some would say my head) swell with self-satisfaction than to know that someone enjoyed my company because I made them smile. I first realized this as a freshman in college. Dorm life—that’s the ticket. Getting to know the other men on my hall was always fun. People would roam the hall and if a door was open, it meant social hour was in session in that room. On one of these occasions I finally had to leave a group of friends to go (I don’t know—study or sleep or something) and as I left the room I heard one of the friends still in the room comment, “I just love Benjie, he’s so funny.” I hadn’t even been trying to be funny.
Communication. I suppose you could say that communication is my life. One of the greatest drives that I have as a pastor, author, blogger is that people catch what I’m trying to say. Sometimes I fall short of this goal because I have a tendency to overuse egghead vocabulary when I should be speaking to the third-grader in the crowd. But still, I want him to understand.
Having assessed these questions, I turned to the list that Groeschel provides at http://www.chazown.com/ to line up what I feel are the core values that most closely match my heart’s cry. Here’s what I came up with:
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