Bring a Torch

“It is Jesus, good folk of the village!

Beautiful is the mother — beautiful is her Child.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because that is what we do on Christmas,” came the answer.

“But why?”

“Really, Jeannie.  You know perfectly well why we open presents.  It’s to show our love for each other and our love for Jesus.”

Pause.  “Mommy, why do we give each other things on his birthday?”

“What, dear?”

“Why don’t we give Jesus presents on his birthday?”

“But we do.  We give him our love and thankfulness.”

“That’s not a very good present, Mommy.  I think he would want something more.”

Pause.  “Like what, Jeannie?”

“I don’t know.”

“Jeannie, he is God.  What kind of present can we give God?”

Pause.  Giggle.  “I could give God what I made in school.”

“That paper maché candle?  What would God do with it, dear?”

“He could use it to — to –.  I don’t know.”

“See what I mean, Jeannie?  We can’t give presents to God, so that’s why we give presents to each other.”

Pause.  “Mommy?”

“Yes, dear?”

“Mommy, couldn’t God have used the candle long ago, when Jesus was born?”

“Well, yes, I suppose so…”

“And Mommy, couldn’t he have used it to light the way for Jesus and Mary and Joseph?  To get them to the stable and keep them out of the dark?”

“Yes, dear, I’m sure he could have.”

“So, Mommy, there are ways God can use what we give him, right?”

“Well…”

“And Mommy, all we have to do is make sure we give our presents to him.”

“Yes, Jeannie.”  Pause.  “All we have to do is give them to him.

Ah, Bleak and Chill the Winter Wind

“Ah, bleak and chill the wintry wind, but colder far be he who hath no warmth of love to share.”

She had been standing on the corner since morning.  The skies had clouded up, and the first hints of winter snow fell.   But she was standing on the corner, wrapped tightly in her winter coat, the baby in her arms, the sign at her feet.

Few had stopped to ask her how she was.  The lunchtime crowds had hurried from the buildings surrounding her, dwarfing her, and no one noticed or paid much attention.  Like many before her, she stood in the busiest section of the city, not begging, not pleading, but asking.

And being refused.

Some of the shoppers had glanced at her out of the corner of their eyes.  “Why doesn’t she get herself a job,” muttered one to another as they hurried from store to store — their eyes set more on the shop windows than on the street in front of them.

No one read the sign that day.  The snow had stopped early in the evening, but she did not move.  Standing alone in the shadow of the department store, she did little more than smile at the occasional passerby who happened to look her in the eye.

She had eaten her lunch there, from a brown bag like so many others, and had fed the child there as well.  She had watched the setting sun glint upon the multi-story glass buildings, and saw the street lamps light and the trees lit with hundreds of small lights.  And, shortly before nine o’clock, when the streets were finally empty, she left.

The next morning, two others had taken her place and no one noticed the difference.  If they had only looked at the sign.  The sign was there to explain the truth and the need.

No one looked at the sign — yes, it still lay there, leaning wind-worn and tired against the marble.  But we can do what no one else would do.  We can take time to notice the sign and read what it says:

“I’m not asking for money.  I don’t wish for a job.  I have both and I am happy.  But others are not.  And for their sake, please look.  Look past the coldness and remember what Someone said long ago: When you have done it unto the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto me. Open your eyes to those around you and maybe we will find a way to make peace in this world.”

Over two thousand years ago, the signs were ignored, and the cold wind of those who rejected Christ still blows.

Today we have a second chance.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

“Peace on the earth, good will towards men from heaven’s all gracious king.”

It wasn’t a particularly good day for the shepherds.  Four of the sheep had gotten caught among the brambles, and two had wandered off in search of greener pastures.  The sun had been warm all day, and nothing hurt more than resting on that stony ground around David’s City.

A few had given up for the day and went home.

Home to bed and warm food and sleep.

But a few, the hardened shepherds, the ones who knew no other life, stayed on into the night and huddled around a fire meant to keep them warm in the now cold darkness.

The quietness hung around them like the coats over their shoulders.  The occasional bleat from a lamb frightened by a rustle in the tall grass was the only sound to hover near them, and it soon disipated into the ever-increasing silence.

Can you see it?

If you close your eyes and look, maybe you can see them.

There, to your left are two of the older fellows, and on your right a couple younger ones, all gazing up at the silent stars.  The fire before you is burning bright and just over that tall shepherd’s shoulder you can make out a few lights in David’s City.

The tall fellow looks about his companions, nods to himself in satisfaction, as if to say, “Everyone is still here,” and closes his eyes.  Sleep sounds good.  He’s been here since morning and after finding the two lost sheep, he is tired.

Wham!  Bam!

The lights across the country are turned on as the hillside suddenly bursts forth into singing!  No man is sleeping, and no animal shakes from fear.  The silence is shattered and thousands of voices sing in unison, “Peace on the earth!  Goodwill toward men from heaven’s all-gracious king!”

The solemn stillness is broken.  It is silent no more.  The angels have sung and the clear sky is a burst with lights.

The tall fellow never got his nap that night.

But that was okay.

He figured he didn’t need it.

Heaven’s Fairer Eye

Christmas is less than a month away.  The buying, the carol-singing, the decorating, suddenly all of these things are the most important and I’m filled with what some sage has termed, “the spirit of the season.”

But I pause.  I stop and I reflect and look at those carols.

They are songs to be sung at Christmastime.

They bring good cheer and warmth to an otherwise cold and hostile world.

They are taken from their resting places (where we stuffed them January 1) and sung with cheerful voices.

So, because they are well-loved, because they are part of the most-loved holiday of the year, I want to look at them.  I want to do more than sing the words or hum the tunes.  I want to look into them and understand why.

Why they are so well-loved.

Why they are shared by all mankind.

Why they help us understand the Christ of whom they speak.

Pause with me, will you?

Get a mug of spiced cider and put on your favorite Christmas album.  Curl up in your most comfortable chair and let’s sing them and share them and love them.

And maybe, while we do, we’ll find something more.

I will be sharing a new story inspired by a classic Christmas carol several times a week between now and Christmas.  I look forward to sharing my thoughts and stories with you.

Standing Tall for America. (Not)

A uniquely American ideal is the fact that we are all equal.  Our leaders are equal to the average individual.

In that, our President represents that unique idea.  He is not only the leader of the nation, he is the symbol of its stand, its leadership, to the world.  America, since its inception, has not bowed before royalty.  We overthew a tyrant in 1776 for the right to stand as freemen, shoulder to to shoulder, face to face.

On his most recent apologize for America tour, President Obama continued his showing the leaders of other countries that in his America, we are not the strong leader or rugged individuals we once were.  In Obama’s America, we bow to the Saudi king, and now, we bow to the waist to the Emperor of Japan.  Yes, the Japan we practically destroyed in World War II.  Here’s how Obama greeted the Japanese ruler.

The Bower-in-Chief

According to gojapan.com: “It depends on the social status or age of the person you bow to. If the person is higher status or older than you are, you should bow deeper and longer. It is polite to bow, bending from your waist.“

Yes, Akihito is older, but Obama is still the freakin’ President of the United States.  You don’t bow to the leader of another country unless you’re clearly trying to tell them: “Yeah, you pretty much are better than us.  Sorry for all the arrogance of the past 8–oops, I mean 200+ years.”

In contrast, here is former Vice President Dick Cheney greeting Akihito.  Say what you like about Dick, the man knows who is boss and is unashamed of America’s place in the great hierarchy of nations.

Yes, I'm from America. And we rock.

Think America is alone in this?  Nope.  Pretty much every other nation that has ever greeted the Japanese ruler, whether from country great or small, has taken the Dick Cheney route.  Only Obama feels he has to show his country isn’t as great as his host’s.

Check out this to see it for yourself.

Christmas Music 2009 (Part One)

I’m a huge fan of Christmas music.  Since I bought my first Christmas CD in 1987 (I believe it was First Call’s An Evening in December), I have accumulated hundreds and hundreds of albums, shared out of print albums digitally across the web, and found obscure and new items on iTunes and other internet sites.

Each year I am thrilled to add more music to my collection, which currently numbers more than 6,500 songs and takes up 30 GB of hard drive space.  If I let the music play for 24 hours/7 days a week, Christmas music would stream from iTunes for 15 days without repeating.  Yes, I love Christmas music.

This year, I’m going to post on some favorite albums and give some suggestions on collections or recordings you should add to your collection.

********************************************************

Ralphie, Before He Shot His Eye Out

This year’s “Big Find” (at least, so far) was the original soundtrack to the Christmas classic, A Christmas Story.  Long-requested but never before released, the music is not ground-breaking.  It didn’t win any major awards, and it’s definitely not going to give composers like John Williams a run for their money.

But from the opening jingling of bells in the main title sequence, to the menacing pastiche of “He Had Yellow Eyes,” which beautifully rips off the wolf’s theme from Peter and the Wolf, to the barking, jaw-harp twang of the Bumpus Hounds’ theme, there isn’t a tune on here that won’t bring back memories of this well-loved film.  Most of the music is adapted from classic Christmas carols or classical music themes, which makes it ideal listening for the season.

None of the period songs were included on the album, which is available from iTunes and Amazon, which means you won’t hear the classic songs of 1940’s America.  But whether it’s the opening title sequence (which is oddly combined with the themes for the Old Man’s Major Award) or the wonderful ripoff of Groffe’s “Grand Canyon Suite” forming the basis of Ralphie’s adventures fighting Black Bart, the music is charming, nostalgic, and sure to conjure up wonderful memories of past viewings of this classic film.

When the whole thing wraps up neatly with “Beautiful, Glorious Christmas,” you’ll agree with Ralphie: “All is right with the world.”

********************************************************

For sheer Christmas perfection, there is no greater album than The Andy Williams Christmas Album.  Recorded in 1963, it has become one of the biggest-selling Christmas albums of all-time, and for good reason.  I grew up listening to this album, and the familiar grin of Andy from the lower left corner of the cover brings back many memories. But, unlike many Christmas albums that make one nostalgic, this album has withstood the test of time and emerged a classic.

Like many holiday LPs of the era, Andy’s eponymous album was divided by sides. Side One conjures the secular fun of the holiday while Side Two dedicates itself to the carols of the season. What this ends up as for the contemporary listener is a wonderful musical journey that is full of delights.

The first track is Andy’s soothing rendition of “White Christmas,” which is mellower than Bing’s–and a perfect way to kick off the album. From there, “Happy Holiday-The Holiday Season” shows what Andy will be leaning toward as the album progresses–some fun, swinging numbers. This track was so good that the Manhattan Transfer virtually duplicated it on their own Christmas album 30 years later. The classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” debuted here, which helps explain why Andy’s version is still the definitive one. (On a side note, one of the co-writers of the tune is more famous as the composer behind the “Gilligan’s Island” theme.)

This Picture Means Christmas is Coming

“The Christmas Song” is beautiful–especially when Andy soars into the final chorus. I prefer it to Nat King Cole’s original recording for sheer beauty. Andy’s version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (A Song and a Christmas Tree) takes the song to wonderful heights of 60’s-era stereo tricks, while “Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells” (arranged by the lady more famous as the author of the “Eloise” books) kicks the end of Side One into the stratosphere. Absolutely amazing arrangement that swings with the best of the psychedelic 60’s.)

Andy’s versions of some best-loved carols are also quite lovely, with his versions of “The First Noel” and “Silent Night” being among the loveliest recordings. His “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” makes excellent use of his vocal ability and showcases the beauty of his under-appreciated talent. The only drawback to Side Two is the warbly-voiced child who practically wrests control of “Away in a Manger” away from the star.

All in all, though, this is a stand out for any season. Often copied (Michael W. Smith most recently did a version of “Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells” that is virtually identical to Andy’s), but never duplicated, it is a triumphant holiday album that will be listened to by my great-great grandchildren. And somehow that red cover with Andy’s grin will bring back holiday memories for them, too.

********************************************************

Many more albums to come.  Happy listening!

The Biblical Virtue of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”

I’m a huge fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I was one of the lucky ones who saw the film in theatres in 1993, when Disney wasn’t sure what to do with the film.  I went to work for Disney right after the film was released and remember seeing all the merchandise created for the movie at 50% off.

You see, when the movie was first released, it was not a huge success.  Oh, it wasn’t a flop per se, but it wasn’t a blockbuster.  And Disney didn’t know how to market the movie.  They almost didn’t let it be known it was a “Disney” film and released it under the Touchstone banner originally.

Maybe it’s because the characters are a little less cute.  Remember, the last three films Disney had released were The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.  They were on a roll.  And along comes this film with a pretty much grey and black color scheme, creepy looking characters, and a storyline that is somewhat…unusual. No wonder they had no idea what to do with it.

The Citizens of Halloweentown

In the years since, however, Nightmare has become a key part of the Disney franchise.  It gives all those Goths who love Disney but don’t want to admit it characters they can wear and get tattoos of and identify with.  The Haunted Mansion Holiday is one of the coolest things to happen to a Disney attraction in years, and the film has been re-released in theatres to much acclaim.

Jack at the Haunted Mansion

But I’ve always loved this movie.  Always.

Some people ask me why.  They see it as a subversion of Christmas.  They see it as what is dark conquering what is light.  They see it as something that somewhat creepy people are fans of and wonder, “What the heck?”

But me, I see it the way I’ve always seen it, and it fits perfectly into the Disney pantheon of storylines.  And it fits perfectly with a Biblical virtue I’ve been thinking about a lot during the past month: Individuality.  You can define individuality any way you want, but the definition I’m working off of is discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference.

You see, Jack Skellington isn’t that much different from Simba.  Or Aladdin.  Or Qusasimodo.  Or Remy (from Ratatouille) or Wall*E.  Jack isn’t that much different from you or me.

You see, all of us are created to fill a special purpose and a place in God’s kingdom.  I don’t know what yours is.  That’s really between you and God, and if you seek His heart and direction, you’ll eventually get there.  But I know what mine is.  My purpose is to help kids and parents find their place in God’s story, to lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, and to help them make a huge difference in this world.

Jack’s trouble is a lot like the trouble I was having a few years ago.  Like Jack, I was really good at what I was doing.  Jack is the “Pumpkin King” and the main man of Halloween.  He is really good at making Halloween great.  In fact, the beginning of the movie points out that this year’s Halloween was even better than last year’s!  Jack isn’t suffering from being a loser–no, he actually has too much success.

Jack and I both got bored with our lives.  We thought there has to be something more.  (This longing for more, something almost every Disney character has, is actually quite godly and ingrained in us as His creation.)  For me, I wondered if what I was doing even mattered anymore.  I had “been there, done that.”  What was left for me to do?

The Pumpkin King has “grown so tired of the sound of screams.”  He’s bored to death.  (Ha!)  He feels he has lost his purpose.  So when he discovers Christmastown, he gets excited again.  Here is something new, something wonderful, and he loves the way it makes him feel.

What's This?

“There’s children throwing snowballs instead of throwing heads!  They’re busy building toys and absolutely no one’s dead!  There’s frost on every window, I can’t believe my eyes–and in my bones I feel the warmth that’s coming from inside!” (from “What’s This?”)

This new feeling awakens him and inspires him.  He decides that this year, he should be in charge of Christmas.  He puts the citizens of Halloweentown to work creating what he thoroughly believes will be a “merry and jolly” Christmas.  In the “Making Christmas” sequence, we watch the macabre residents of Halloweentown busy working on creating gifts for Christmas.  Yes, every single gift is horrific and scary or disgusting and gross, but they are doing their best to make what will be a wonderful Christmas.

Needless to say, it all goes wrong.  The toys attack the children, Christmas wreaths try to strangle granny, and the police are on the lookout for a man dressed as a skeleton ruining this joyful holiday.  Moments before he is shot down by missiles, Jack is convinced he’s making a great Christmas for everyone.  He has completely missed the point.

Jack eventually comes to his senses.

Santa Jack.

“What have I done?  How could I be so blind?  Spoiled all!  Everything’s gone all wrong…” (“Poor Jack”)

He sings that “all I ever wanted was to bring them something great,” and that he really did his best and it awakened in him something he hadn’t felt in his life for a long time.  “I, Jack, the Pumpkin King,” he sings, and realizes, “That’s right! I am the Pumpkin King!”

You see, Jack, like me, had forgotten who he was.  He hadn’t “discovered who he was meant to be so he could make a difference.”  Why was Jack’s version of Christmas so messed up?  Because he was trying to subvert it and make it evil?  No.  Jack–and the rest of the people of Halloweentown–could not make Christmas “merry and jolly” because that’s not what they were created to do.  Their purpose in life was to scare people.  That’s what Jack was created to do.

When Jack finally comes to the realization of who he is, I think it is safe to say that he will fully devote himself to making Halloween the most amazing thing he can.  He has discovered who he is–now he can fulfill his purpose and be all that he is intended to be.

You and me, we’re in the same place as Jack Skellington sometimes.  Until we know what we are created to do, we will never be able to fulfill our purpose.  We may already have discovered who we are meant to be but think, “That’s not important enough or interesting enough or I’ve done it so long that I’m bored.”

The Pumpkin King

Remember Jack Skellington.  Discover who you are meant to be so you can make the difference only you can make.  Don’t try to be what you’re not.   Be who you were created to be.

You are More than What You Have Become

Mufasa's Ghost

I watched The Lion King the other night.  It was the first time I’d watched the movie in years.

(I know that sounds weird coming from a true Disney fan.  People usually assume all you watch are Disney films.  I don’t.  I actually want to like the movies, and as Shakespeare once noted: “familiarity breeds contempt.“  I find the more I watch a movie I really like, the less I like it.  But I digress.)

The movie is truly one of Disney’s greats.  It seems a little unfair that the Academy Award for Best Animated Film category was created so late that Disney’s Bronze Age of animation didn’t get the Oscars they deserved (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King are far superior to the first winner, Shrek), but luckily their legacy lives on in a myriad of ways.  Sadly, some of that legacy gets diluted by the very marketing arm keeping the characters alive so many years after they first appeared.  (Oops, I digressed again.)

The Lion King is a clear and blatant ripoff of Hamlet, and some people say it is a blatant ripoff of a Japanese film called Kimba, which tells the story of an orphaned lion who becomes king.  (Which is a lot like Hamlet, and well, a lot of other stories where orphans become king.)  But what it lacks in originality it makes up for in great voice acting, beautiful traditional Disney animation, one of the greatest opening sequences of a movie ever (featuring the best song in the film, Elton John’s “Circle of Life”), and a truly inspirational scene.

Simba has rejected what his legacy says he should be.  His role in life, to be the next king, has been usurped by another (his murderous uncle), and instead of fighting for his rightful place, Simba adopts the philosophy of “Hakuna matata,” or “No worries.”  He now looks at the past this way: “Sometimes bad things happen and there’s nothing you can do about it.”  He disappoints Nala, his childhood friend and sweetheart, by not being more like his father.

What Nala doesn’t realize is that Simba is acutely aware of his inadequacy.  He knows he is not living up to his potential, that his father, Mufasa, would not be proud of the way he is living his life.  He tries to blame it on his father, shouting at the nighttime sky, “You promised you’d always be there for me.  But you’re not!”

A visit from a crazy old baboon, who claims to be able to show Mufasa to Simba.  Simba follows him to a pool, and Rafiki points into the water.  “Look down there,” says the baboon.  Simba looks down and sees only his reflection.  “No, look harder,” says Rafiki.  Again Simba looks, and now he sees not his own reflection, but a reflection of his father.  “You see?” says Rafiki, “He lives in you.”

Asante sana, squashed banana.

Wind howls, the sky darkens, and in the rumbling thunder, Simba sees his father in the clouds.  Mufasa speaks in a low but powerful voice:  “Simba, you have forgotten me.”  The young lion argues, “No!  How could I?”  But his father is firm.  “You have forgotten who you are, and so forgotten me.  Look inside yourself, Simba.  You are more than what you have become… Remember who you are.  Remember….”

The words brought tears to my  eyes as I thought about their power.

How often do we forget who we are?  As a child of God, I am the son of the King.  But do I remember?  Or do I choose to live my life believing “Hakuna Matata?”

No worries for the rest of your days.  A problem-free philosophy.

But is it problem-free?  We were created to live lives of responsibility of meaning.  “No worries” doesn’t exist when you have realtionships.  Sure, you don’t need to worry about everything that happens in your life, but choosing to “put your past behind you” and just moving on is no way to live.  You need to see where you’ve come from, learn from it, so you can be what you are meant to be.

How often does God need to say to us, “You are more than what you have become!”  We sacrifice our identity as children of God for lives of leisure and ease.  Our homeland is a difficult place where we must battle against an enemy and stand for what is right.  That takes work.  Much easier to stay in a place of pleasure, entertained and enjoyed than to fight against an enemy who has robbed us of our identity and whispers in our ear, “What have you done?”

Simba runs away because he has been convinced he is guilty.  We run away because we are guilty.  God comes to us and says, “You must remember who you are.”

Who are you?  Who have you become?  And is that the person you were created to be?  Simba wakes up from his life of ease and realizes his place is to fight for his father’s kingdom.  To not be content while the enemy continues ravaging and destroying.  How I pray that I hear God’s words to me, “You are more than what you have become,” and do the same.

Interesting to note: when Simba stands up for who he truly is, those who advocate the life of pleasure and comfort suddenly see that the world is something to fight for, too.  Not only does it change his life when he becomes who he was meant to be, it changes the lives of everyone around him as well.

That’s the way God intends it to be.

The End

Harry Reid Admits: The Cost for Health Care “Reform” is Actually $2 TRILLION

Yesterday, while arguing against $54 billion in savings from Tort Reform (stopping lawsuits by trial lawyers), Harry Reid admitted the following:

SENATOR HARRY REID: He talked about CBO saying that there would be $54 billion saved each year if we put caps on medical malpractice and put some restrictions — tort reform — $54 billion. Sounds like a lot of money, doesn’t it, Mr. President? The answer is yes. But remember, we’re talking about $2 trillion, $54 billion compared to $2 trillion. You can do the math. We can all do the math. It’s a very small percent.

We’ve been sold a bill of goods. The bill just passed this week was only supposed to cost $850 billion. Harry Reid can do the math–we all can–and $2 trillion is not the same thing.

As a famous congressman once said, “YOU LIE!”

Just a Few Quick Thoughts

Here’s a few things on my mind today:

1) Good memories of times gone by.  For some reason, Robyn wanted to watch the video of Home for Christmas, the 2004 Living Christmas Tree at Overlake, and in my opinion, the best of all the shows I created.  So fun watching people I love doing what they are good at.  Hard to believe 5 years have gone by, and how much life has changed in that time.

2)  Soccer dads.  At Austen’s soccer game this morning there was one father who was obnoxious.  Yelling at the kids the entire game, and the coach, who is quite nice, won’t just tell him to shut up.  God protect me from ever acting like that.  He was such a jerk.

3)  Christmas.  Not the holiday as much as the music and the feelings it evokes in me.  Since it’s October, we’ve begun introducing instrumental Christmas music into the music playlists, and I must say, I enjoy it.  I would love to have just a bit more.  Not Andy Williams yet, but there’s a few more out there I would like to listen to.

4)  My wife.  She is beautiful, gorgeous, and the love of my life.  I am so grateful to God for the blessing she is to me, for the joy she brings me, and for all we have gone through together.  I am very blessed to be married to her.

That’s all for now.