Christmas by the Numbers

Video (Christmas 2009 #18): Baby It's Cold Outside

Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel nailed this song...

...but have you heard Selma Blair and Rainn Wilson? The video adds a great interpretation of the song.

Kenya Bound

In January, only a few days after arriving at my new home in North Carolina, and joining the True North Church family, Jon McClarnon (the senior pastor) and I will fly out to Kenya in order to see how best we marriage the ministry in North Carolina with what is taking place there in Kenya. The plan will include regularly leading teams to share in God's work there.

I'm pretty excited about these opportunities.

Our contact in Kenya is Chatty Daniels, a True North partner. Here is a video she created introducing us to life's new adventure:

Video (Christmas 2009 #17): Winter Snow

Winter Snow by Audrey Assad. You may have heard this song on Chris Tomlin's recent Christmas album. The lyrics are below the video.

Could've come like a mighty storm
With all the strength of a hurricane
You could've come like a forest fire
With the power of heaven in Your flame

But You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below

You could've swept in like a tidal wave
Or an ocean to ravish our hearts
You could have come through like a roaring flood
To wipe away the things we've scarred

But You came like a winter snow
(Yes, You did)
You were quiet
You were soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below

Oh, no, Your voice wasn't in a bush burning
No, Your voice wasn't in a rushing wind
It was still
It was small
It was hidden

You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below

Falling
(Oh, yeah)
To the earth below
You came falling
From the sky in the night
To the earth below

Behold the Lamb of God

If you visit this site you can listen to Andrew Peterson's entire Behold the Lamb of God album. A perfect meditation on the birth narrative of Jesus.

I already posted one of Andrew's songs from the album for the 2009 Christmas playlist. And I'm planning on another closer to Christmas day.

But for now take about an hour to sit down and listen to this amazing retelling of our Immanuel's story. Trust me. You can bake me some gingerbread cookies as a thank you if you want.

Video (Christmas 2009 #16): This Is War

Here's a great song called This Is War by Dustin Kensrue (of Thrice).

This Is War

This is war like you ain't seen.
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
With hangdog hearts we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.

This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.

This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it's final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man.

Photos: Norman Rockwell Photo Realism

I found these Norman Rockwell paintings/photos HERE. Along with Norman's (he and I are on a first name basis) paintings are some photos where the paintings were recreated. I think they're cool.

Video (Christmas 2009 #15): Glory in the Highest/O Come All Ye Faithful

This is some video from Shane & Shane's Glory in the Highest Christmas tour. More specifically when they preformed at my church, Journey Fellowship, here in San Antonio. Singing with Shane & Shane is (one of the) Shane's wife Bethany Dillon and Phil Wickham.

(unfortunately the video ends abruptly but it's still good...)

Video (Christmas 2009 #14):

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - James Taylor

Video (Christmas 2009 #13): Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland - Louis Armstrong (1st video)

I love Louis' voice. There is just nothing like it in music today.

Winter Wonderland - Jason Mraz (2nd video)

&

Video (Christmas 2009 #12): Must Be Santa

Okay I think this video gets us caught up on our playlist for Christmas 2009.
If you have any suggestions for a song to add to this playlist please leave your comments.
But this song is a real gem. It's Bob Dylan's Must Be Santa.

Video (Christmas 2009 #11): Blue Christmas

Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley (featuring Martina McBride)

Video (Christmas 2009 #10): Christmas Song

Christmas Song by Dave Matthews Band

Video (Christmas 2009 #9): Peace on Earth

I've been a little behind on my Christmas playlist. So sorry but here come a few post in a row to catch up. Christmas song for 2009 belongs to U2. Peace on Earth:

Peace on Earth by U2

Heaven on Earth
We need it now
I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around
Sick of sorrow
Sick of pain
Sick of hearing again and again
That there's gonna be
Peace on Earth

Where I grew up
There weren't many trees
Where there was we'd tear them down
And use them on our enemies
They say that what you mock
Will surely overtake you
And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you

It's already gone too far
Who said that if you go in hard
You won't get hurt

Jesus could you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
No whos or whys
No-one cries like a mother cries
For peace on Earth
She never got to say goodbye
To see the colour in his eyes
Now he's in the dirt
Peace on Earth

They're reading names out over the radio
All the folks the rest of us won't get to know
Sean and Julia, Gareth, Ann and Breda
Their lives are bigger, than any big idea

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
To tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth

Jesus this song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth
Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth?
This peace on Earth

Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth

Art: Tommy Hiler

Tonight I went to my friend Tommy Hiler's senior art thesis. You might remember that Tommy created this amazing work of art:

There was some incredible pieces of work, but Tommy painting were far my favorite. He uses gas masks in his art to help communicate the idea that some people isolate themselves from the reality they actually live in. Or to possible express that even though we live in a world we're "breathing" a whole different reality.

Here are some photos of the 5 pieces Tommy presented tonight:

NFL Week 13 Picks

I couldn't remember who one of my picks for today, but when I went too look it up here I realize that my picks never posted. Still not sure why Blogger is not posted the post I send in via e-mail. But nevertheless here are my picks for Week 13 of the NFL.

New York @ Buffalo = Jets

Philadelphia @ Atlanta = Eagles

Tampa Bay @ Carolina = Panthers

St. Louis @ Chicago = Bears

Detroit @ Cincinnati = Bengals

Tennessee @ Indianapolis = Colts

Houston @ Jacksonville = Jaguars

Denver @ Kansas City = Broncos

New England @ Miami = Patriots

Oakland @ Pittsburgh = Steelers

New Orleans @ Washington = Saints

San Diego @ Cleveland = Chargers

Dallas @ New York = Cowboys

San Francisco @ Seattle = 49ers

Minnesota @ Arizona = Vikings

Baltimore @ Green Bay = Packers

By the way here is something I've learned about my ability to pick NFL games. If I go with the obvious projected winner (or my gut) I pick right about 3 out of every 4 times.

Quote: John Lennon

So true. I love wasting time.

When Grown Men Cry

I found the photos below at another blog. Although I left off the Robert Downey Jr. one, because it's kinda awkward.

The photographer, Sam Taylor-Wood, said of these photos,

"Some of the men cried before I even finished loading the camera, but others found it really difficult. People can decide for themselves which they think are the authentic tears and which they think are fake. It's about the idea of taking these big, masculine men and showing a different side."

I've been thinking a lot lately about confession, honesty and authenticity. I'm not great at being vulnerable but I certainly don't want to become so good at just acting out false intimacy either.

That's what I was thinking as I saw these photos.

Ketchup Bomb

These ketchup packets are making an interesting statement. I'm just not sure if I think it's appropriate. I'm going to open it up to debate. Take a look and make your case...

Video (Christmas 2009 #8): Matthew's Begats

This song is called Matthew's Begats by Andrew Peterson. It's the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew's gospel, chapter one. Enjoy.