A Christmas Fit for a King

Christmas in our house is always a big deal — we all look forward to it with a tremendous amount of enjoyment. Kathy and I both like to give gifts, and several of our kids really like to receive them, so it is a win/win situation.

It is almost time to take the tree down. I try to hold off until Valentines Day, but eventually even I must agree that the season has passed. Still, it is fun to reflect on a few of the highlights.

Kathy bought each of us our own new Christmas pajamas to celebrate the birth of our Lord.

Kathy bought each of us our own new Christmas pajamas to celebrate the birth of our Lord.

This year my main gift from the family was a new chair for my computer desk. My old chair had become sadly cracked and worn, and so they tracked down a new chair for me — one that helped to accentuate my kingly authority and dignity.

It doesn't get much more kingly and dignified than this.

It doesn’t get much more kingly and dignified than this. If Jesus physically visits our house, I will definitely let Him sit in this chair.

The chair is just the perfect height for my desk, and I must admit, I feel quite important when I sit in it. It has wheels so I can easily push back from the desk if I need a little more leg room, and the arms of the chair support my elbows nicely when I need to ponder.

I let Joshua kiss my regal ring -- he always was one to curry favor.

I let Joshua kiss my regal ring — he always was one to curry favor.

One of our Christmas traditions is to open stockings, and then gather for a Christmas breakfast before moving on to the presents under the tree. Kathy usually makes us a delicious egg caserole of some kind — it is one of the highlights of the day.

It was very nice to have Joshua home with us for a few weeks, before he rushed back to school for January Term.

It was very nice to have Joshua home with us for a few weeks, before he rushed back to school for January Term.

Every year I tell myself, “Try to slow down and pay more attention to the magic of the season,” and every year the Christmas holiday is gone almost before I look up from the wrapping. It kind of makes you wonder what Christmas in Heaven will be like … ?

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The Crumbling of My Resolve

For many years, I swore we would not have cats in our house.

“My Dad is allergic, and they are a lot of trouble, when it comes to kitty litter, etc. Plus, if we ever go out of town, we have to pay someone to feed them.”

And for years, my daughters prayed and pleaded. “Don’t you think kittens would be fun? They are so cute! We will take good care of them, we promise!”

Rachel's favorite is Misty, who is the senior of our two cats.

Rachel’s favorite is Misty, who is the senior (and by far the more sophisticated) of our two cats.

I wasn’t buying it. We had a couple of guinea pigs, but one died, and the second wasn’t very affectionate, so we ended up giving him away. I felt vindicated by the short attention span of my children and the relative lack of value we had enjoyed from these pets.

Then, suddenly, my resolve crumbled, and we found ourselves with not one, but two kittens.

Since then, two years have passed, and one cat (Miri) died, but was replaced (in some sense) by Marco. They are ‘inside’ cats, but are fascinated by the outdoors, especially birds and the occasional enemy cat that dares to trespass our yard.

Marco must have seen a Bad Cat outside -- he takes his duties as Guard Cat very seriously.

Marco must have seen a Bad Cat outside — he takes his duties as Guard Cat very seriously.

And in a strange way, I am thankful for them. As selfish and utterly contemptuous toward us as all cats are, my heart warms at the sight of Marco stretched out on his back, belly exposed, paws curled in contentment. Even Misty, who is a classic introvert, is pleasant to have around when she deigns to curl up with me. There is a deep satisfaction in petting them, and they are (at least) very appreciative whenever we feed them.

Sarah is the 'owner' of Marco, the latest addition to our family.   Marco is a bit of a chow-cat, but we love him anyway!

Sarah is the ‘owner’ of Marco, the latest addition to our family. Marco is a bit of a chow-cat, but we love him anyway!

I think the way I most enjoy our cats is watching them when they sleep, and gaining vicarious pleasure from their total abandonment to rest. I imagine Heaven as a place where college students and parents of newborns, and even weary programmers, can rest with all their heart, for as long as they need.

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AWANA – Aye Wanna Pie Ya

"NO, you can't make me go!  Save me!"

“NO, you can’t make me go! Save me, Kathy!”

Tim is amazing! He gives his heart and soul for our church’s AWANA program. He’s served as the T&T director for several years now, and he continues to pour faithfully into the lives of the children who come every week. Last week the Commander (head of the program) told the kids, “Whoever says the most Discoveries next week gets to Pie Mr. Tim!!” Such screaming and cheering as you wouldn’t believe. A few of the girls spent HOURS memorizing their Bible verses and working on extra projects.

"Don't do it, Kivi, there's still time to walk away."

“Here’s a nickel, Kivi, pie Mr. Jim instead!”

AT some point Tim incorporated the Thankful Chair into our T&T Council Time. Every week he brings up two different children to share something for which they are thankful. The kids BEG to be picked for their turn. They love having a moment in the spotlight. This year he decided to teach them a little bit about prayer, and he used the Thankful Chair to accomplish this. He tells the kids regularly, “Praying is just talking to God. Praying out loud is just praying where other people can hear you.” So now the T & T’ers come up to the front, sit in the Thankful Chair, say their name and lead us in a prayer, sharing what they are thankful for. It’s beautiful, simple and a precious gift to watch. Tim usually beams and encourages them, “Some ADULTS don’t even like to pray aloud, and you are ALREADY learning the joy of doing it now!”

"Hmmm, I wonder if I should have shaved first?"

“Hmmm, I wonder if I should have shaved first?”

Passionate for the Word of God, Tim is constantly searching for interesting and creative ways to encourage the kids to memorize their verses and work through their T&T books. Each time someone finishes a discovery (8 sections in their book – a difficult feat) they are recognized up front, receive a pin for their badge and get to pick one of Mr. Tim’s cool prizes. Oh, the fun he has in tracking down things for these kids – he buys children’s Bibles, small jewelry, bags, comic Bibles, Christian t-shirts, Odyssey cd’s, praise music, candy, books, fuzzy socks, gloves, and little toys.

Got him good.  Now what to do with the rest in this dish?  Hit him again? Yep.

Got him good. Now what to do with the rest in this dish? Hit him again? Yep.

Oh, she goes in for another good shove in the face.

Oh, she goes in for another good shove in the face.

Last year Tim expressed to me a desire to learn the kids’ names. Since I sit at the registration table and check the children in each week and then go through their record books after verse time, it’s easy for me to put faces to names. Tim, however, is usually busy at registration time, and then spends the rest of the evening rushing around getting leaders into the right spot, taking care of different problems as they arise and preparing for council time.

No pies for this team!

No pies for this team!

This year Tim was more determined than ever and so he designed a wooden nickel just for our AWANA group. He told the kids, “If I don’t know your name, you get a wooden nickel.” Blank looks greeted him. “And, after AWANA, you can find me and redeem the nickels for a soda.” Cheers erupted! Ah the simple motivation of a can of pop. It didn’t take Tim long to learn all of the T&T’ers names. Next he told them, “Okay, now I know your names, the next thing I’m going to work on is your birthdays. You can come up to me at any point during AWANA, and if I don’t know your birthday, you get a wooden nickel. Only one time in the night, of course.” More cheers.

Don't take any wooden nickels ... unless they are like this one!

Don’t take any wooden nickels … unless they are like this one!

Sometimes I don’t understand Tim’s ideas or where he comes up with them. Really? Their birthdays, honey? And then he looks at me with those piercing eyes, “Just think of it, Kathy, a grown-up (not their relative or neighbor or teacher) who not only knows their names, but their birthdays! Some of these kids don’t have very many people in their lives who care about them. I care.”

What flavor was it?  Butterscotch?

What flavor was it? Butterscotch?

And for that he’ll even take a pie in the face for them.

Thank you, Tim, for loving these kids.

Kathy

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Sunshine or School – not a fair choice

When the grey weather breaks, it is almost impossible to resist the draw of some outside fun. If the sunshine is accompanied by a Facebook post or a little text message that goes something like this:

3 pm at the park – who’s in?

School is pretty much doomed from then out. Math isn’t finished? Too bad. More reading to do? Nope. We’ve got vitamin D to absorb and friends to visit.

We convinced the boys to climb down from the rocks and join us.

We convinced the boys to climb down from the rocks and join us.

The boys climb up on the rocks while the girls sit in the sand visiting.

The boys climb up on the rocks while the girls sit in the sand visiting.

Growing up in Michigan, I am continually amazed at Washington state’s winter weather. Yes, the rain and clouds can seem to hang on for days (okay weeks), but then there are times when the sun breaks through and the temperatures soar (okay drift) into park friendly numbers.

Sweet friendship between these two!

Sweet friendship between these two!

I try to tell the kids, “No, summer is not coming. For that matter, spring isn’t really coming. It’s January. We are in the middle of winter. It could snow.”

Any chance to play Frisbee is a good day in Daniel's book.

Any chance to play Frisbee is a good day in Daniel’s book.

Oh dear. That’s the wrong thing to say. These children, you know the ones who DIDN’T grow up in midwestern or northeastern winter wonderlands, eyes fill with hope and excitement.

“You mean, it could still snow?” They can think of nothing better than the idea of some good snow storms hitting Washington. Hours of sledding. No school. Lots of hot cocoa.

Love friends who are up for last minute outings.

Friends are truly one of God’s greatest blessing in my life.

As for me, I’m sorry my snow-deprived children, I’ll take the mild WA temps any day. And I know we’ll catch up on school tomorrow. :)

Kathy

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The Tiny Gifts

One of the things I like best about being a child of God is the little gifts He gives me.

Don’t get me wrong — I like the big, expensive gifts, too. I am thrilled and grateful to have survived two different kinds of cancer in the past two years. I am deeply appreciative of my wife and children and the excellent job God has provided me with.

But sometimes we take those big things for granted, or we get a little too accustomed to them — and so, God mixes it up a bit, just to remind us of how much He loves us.

James 1:7 says:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Not my actual gift.

Not my actual gift.

For some reason, this verse has been on my mind a lot, lately — a few months ago I wrote a skit about it for AWANA, and I keep remembering this verse whenever I notice God doing something especially kind. Of course, the ability to recognize God’s hand and His gifts is itself a gift … but perhaps I’m getting a little circular.

Today was a bit of a long day. It is the first Sunday since I wrote my goals for 2014, and my week ends (from a reporting perspective) on Sundays. This means that all the goals that aren’t tied to a particular day, or those that must be done a certain number of times a week, come due on Sunday. Tomorrow I’ll need to send an email to the men in my accountability group, reporting on this week’s goal performance.

So I furiously worked for much of the day to catch up — praying, reading, writing, spending time with my family — my day was full! At the end of the evening, after a quick trip to the gym, I sank into my chair and prayed for a few people I had forgotten during the week. Opening my eyes, I glanced at the clock in the corner of my computer screen — Oooof! 11 pm already!

What about my fun? What about the hour of computer gaming I had promised myself, all day? How can I possibly keep up with these goals, especially if I put many of them off until Sunday? And then I got a tiny gift from God, just to let me know that He loves me.

I clicked on the I’m still listening button on Pandora, and my favorite Christmas song started to play (yes, I’m still listening to Christmas music in the third week of January). It was as though God reached down from Heaven, tapped my shoulder, and quietly told me:

“Tim, I’m proud of you and pleased with you for working so hard to complete these goal tasks for My glory. I know you like this song best, so I’m having Pandora play it for you to give you a moment of rest and joy before you got to bed.

And so this tiny gift fills my heart with gladness, and I wanted to share it with you.

Tim

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