The 12 Days After Christmas

Now that the gifts are opened and the holiday meal eaten, we thought a little fun might be in order. This video is a fun take on the reality many of us face once Christmas comes to pass. Merry Day-After Christmas.

Holiday Greetings From Your Family Life Pastors

This Christmas Season we thank God for the opportunity to serve the families of Covenant Fellowship Church and to build our lives together as couples and families in the mercy and grace of God.

That man should be made in God's image is a wonder,

but that God should be made in man's image is a greater wonder.
That the Ancient of Days would be born?
That He who thunders in the heavens should cry in the cradle?"
~Thomas Watson~



MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Traditions: Old and New

Today is Christmas Eve. Yep. If that serves as a news flash to you, please stop reading and go finish your shopping…I’ll wait. If you knew that, then you are most likely ready for tomorrow…the big day.

Families all have different traditions that they do at this time of year. Early in our marriage, Gina and I would read the book The Gift of the Magi to each other. Slowly, though, Christmas Eve traditions developed into gift wrapping and more gift wrapping. But, if you are like us and striving to have the wrapping out of the way, let me propose an idea for you.

This past Sunday, four members of our Cross Culture Youth ministry performed a synthesis of an Old Testament passage with a number of New Testament passages. Very powerful when you understand how God foretold the coming and purpose of our Savior.

Well, that was an excerpt from a larger piece that Marty Machowski put together for our Cross Culture Christmas party. The piece, far too long to post here in the blog, is an exercise in worship. How glorious to celebrate the coming and the telling of our Savior. And what a great gift for husbands and wives to enjoy together.

You can view it here for your use with our recommendation. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Shopping, an Adventure in Marriage

Editor’s note: Andrea submitted this blog last Christmas but we didn’t get the chance to use it. But she told me that this is becoming their new tradition.

As I stuffed the gifts under my bed, I couldn’t believe David and I had just spent the whole day shopping together—a first in our 25 years of marriage! I have always done the majority of the Christmas shopping for our family, but this year, I was not able to get out there and do the early bird thing. So I asked David if he would be willing to take one of his vacation days and go with me. The look on his face said it all; but then he quickly recovered and agreed to go. We started the day at eight am and headed for Lowe’s. Within 3 minutes (give or take), David found some cool gadgets for the men in our extended family and then headed for the register.

Now David is disposed toward decisiveness and efficiency, a quality I’ve always liked in him – except for times such as this. I tend to mull over things, compare, evaluate, and analyze. Some say I go overboard trying to get just the right thing at the right price, which can make shopping with me a “prisoner of war” type experience. I can’t imagine how they come to that conclusion.

As we sat in the car looking over our shopping list, I started to get this uncomfortable feeling that David might not be the asset I thought he’d be. Without much thought, I offered him an “observation,” mumbling something about missing evangelism opportunities if we did things his way. Mercifully, he did not expose my attempt to manipulate and listened with a gentle smile. I was experiencing our differences acutely at that moment, and I had a choice on how to respond. Could I joyfully follow my husband’s leadership and wisdom, or would I battle for supremacy? By God’s grace, I did not press the issue and we went onto the next store. We were there a little longer, say about 10 minutes And so went the day. As we traveled to each place, we talked over ideas, laughed, and bantered with each other—all still at a nice pace. By the afternoon, we were sitting in a restaurant counting our receipts, and I couldn’t believe we were almost done. It was amazing to me – for I would have traditionally spread this event out over weeks and over budget.

As I recounted the day (which by the way, I thoroughly enjoyed), I marveled at the grace of God to use our differences as the source of joy between us that day rather than as a joy extinguisher. We, as well as close friends of ours, would be the first to tell you that there are many times when both of us have made different choices in our words and actions toward one another, and still do, but God has been so merciful to us a couple. His amazing grace first saves us and then “teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:12) And in the context of relationships, in this case our marriage which God has so graciously given us to enjoy, that results in forbearance, harmony, and love, which in turn reflects His character and brings the glory to Him!

And a wonderful day of shopping!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

The other night we were at a Christmas party with friends. Toward the end of the party our hosts gave us each a packet of Christmas hymns, which we proceeded to sing around a piano. What had been a great party became great worship, because the songs we were singing contained the astounding truth of the incarnation of our Savior.

Over the next few days as familiar Christmas carols rattle around in your head, take some time and ponder the deep Gospel thoughts contained in some familiar carols:

Angels From the Realms of Glory
Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord, descending, in His temple shall appear
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King

Good Christian Men Rejoice
Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave;
Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
O ye, beneath life's crushing load whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow;
Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own the Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.

O Little Town Of Bethlehem
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming; but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.

Silent Night
Silent night, Holy night! Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord at thy birth; Jesus Lord at thy birth.

The First Noel
Then let us all with one accord; sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven and earth of naught
And with His blood mankind hath bought.
Noel Noel Noel Noel! Born is the King of Israel!

What Child is This?
Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through, the Cross be borne, for me, for you:
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King; whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.

We Three Kings
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice!
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia, heaven to earth replies.
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"

Joy to the World
He rules the world with truth and grace, and gives to nations proof
The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love;
And wonders of His love; and wonders, wonders of His love.

5 Practical Insights / Tips to Make this Christmas a Parenting Success

I don’t know about your home, but Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for us. It’s the most wonderful time for family and fun. It’s the most wonderful time for temptation and sin. So, maybe “the most wonderful time” is not the right title. Maybe “it was the best of times…it was the worst of times” fits better.

I find that going into something with our eyes wide open can help contribute to its success. And having some tools when you see it helps even more. So, to that end, here’s 5 tips that you may find useful. (If not, send us some of your own so I can be more helpful next year.)

1. Your children’s sin patterns will be enhanced this Yuletide: With presents tempting their selfishness, extended family members discouraging discipline, and the inevitable loss of sleep that comes from travelling about, sin will most likely abound. Expect it. Don’t be surprised by it. Respond out of intention and not out of reaction.

2. Give everyone an empty trash bag: There is something about clutter that makes parenting harder. And Christmas provides its fair share of clutter with wrapping paper, empty boxes, etc. So, spread around the responsibility for trash removal. And keep extra bags handy, because my non-scientific research reveals that December 27th or so, a second echelon of trash makes its move on the family room.

3. Continue (or Begin) the annual December 26th Sleep-in Celebration: No earthly medicine is as effective as the medicine of rest. And, after a day filled with enhanced sin patters and boundless clutter, a good and long night’s sleep will serve the whole family. Or, you could consider a close cousin of this tradition…the annual December 26th mandatory nap day. That is one of my favorites.

4. Consider creating teaching episodes rather than preaching a Christmas message: “Keeping Christ in Christmas” is far from a novel idea. But most children, regardless of age, have exciting things on their mind each Christmas. Much of the time, they are happy to give you their attention and their heart for a reading out of Luke or a Christmas lesson…but have mercy and keep it short. Create a couple of times throughout the day where you gather again for the next installment. But don’t teach them in a 90 minute lesson what could be taught in four “10 minute” installments.

5. Toy dump before…or at least after: Many families in America have more toys than we know what to do with. Consider creating some room for new things by selecting a good number of old things that have to go. You could donate them to less fortunate families or non-profit organizations. Or, you could store them in a corner of your attic or garage until June/July. Pulling out old toys and storing other ones makes it like Christmas all over again in the summer.

There are hundreds more tips/insights that could be shared and many may be better than the 5 that I did share. The bottom line, though, is that parenting during the holidays provides us with great family memories…and some that are not so great. It gives us the best of times and the worst of times. Being prepared for the temptation might just afford you a year of Christmas lived in the best of times. That would be parenting success.

The Letters of Joseph and Mary

Jared Mellinger wrote a poem that he read in church during our Songs for the Savior teaching series. In it, he explores the relationship between Joseph and Mary...wonderful insights. As wonderful as the poem was, we wanted to share it with you. So, if you follow this link, you'll see the poem in its entirety.

Happy Mother's Day

The following post comes from some thoughts I shared with the church on Mothers Day 2000. May they bless the Moms who so bless the Savior!

About a week and a half ago, my mother’s mother passed away. She had been in failing health and so it wasn’t surprising that the Lord would take her. It was my privilege to fly to Gastonia, NC to be with my mother as she said goodbye to hers.

My mother had been the primary caretaker for my grandmother in the last year of her life – welcoming her into her home to give her the round the clock attention she needed. She had done the same thing with my father’s mother a few years before. So it was both an honor and a pleasure to be with her in this time.

As I was leaving the day after the funeral, my mom took a few small porcelain dolls that had been among her mother’s heirlooms. She wrapped them and put them in my bag. Knowing from the last time she stayed with us that we are short of table spoons, she also took some of her mother’s table spoons and told me to give them to Jill.

On the flight home a thought occurred to me. At a time when she was only beginning to sort out life without her mother in this world, my mom’s thoughts turned to her daughter in law and her grandchildren.

The thing I have pondered since then is the old saying, “A mother’s work is never done.”. We usually apply that to the 30 hour days moms put in. But this experience has taught me that a mother’s work lasts a lifetime – it is as much a way of life as it is about the tasks of raising children.

I see this in my wife as well. When you enter our home, you enter the mothering zone. In the mothering zone, your needs are anticipated, your messes are cleaned up, your booboos are given lavish attention, and hugs abound. Jill couldn’t do otherwise if she tried. And like all moms, her mothering zone is mobile, it goes where she goes.

When I see the moms in this church, that’s what I see. Mobile mothering zones extending throughout the community – enveloping anyone who happens to get close enough for a good mothering to take place. I see it in the way moms in this church treat all kids like their kids. I see it in the way moms serve in Alpha. I’ve seen it in the past few months in the way moms have descended on brides- to-be leading up to weddings. I’ve seen it in the way moms intercede in prayer for this church and its mission.

Mothering is not just a job, or even a calling. It is those things, but it is also a grace, a divine gift to do and be something that cuts against the grain of comfort, self interest, and visible reward. But like the work of motherhood, the grace the grace of motherhood doesn’t end.

The apostle Paul said to the Corinthians, “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”.

On this Mother’s day, we as a church want to do the same thing.

· We want to thank God FOR YOU – for the means of grace you are in our lives.

· We also want to thank God WITH YOU – for the grace he has given you for the task. It is and always will be all of grace.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY FROM YOUR FAMILY LIFE TEAM!

Valentine’s Eve

It’s Valentine’s Eve, and at this point the world of married couples is divided into two camps – those who have made plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and those who haven’t. For those who have, congratulations on your foresight, may your Valentine’s Day be a truly romantic experience.

However, for those who haven’t made plans, let me offer some practical advice (from experience – both good and bad) on how to rescue your Valentine’s Day.

First, some DON’TS:

DON’T panic. Valentine’s-oriented businesses make their money on people who panic and go for the big score to rectify a missed opportunity. Don’t buy into it.

DON’T be guilt-motivated. Your spouse can tell the difference between a thoughtful gift or romantic plan and something you’ve thrown together out of guilt. Trust me, its along way from guilt to romance.

DON’T judge or compare. I think every couple who has been married for more than a few years has an experience where one spouse’s romantic gesture seems a little more, let’s say, substantial, than the other’s. Let’s not be critical of any attempts to express love or romance.

And that leads us to some ‘DO’S’.

DO be grateful for whatever your spouse does to show love, even if it is not much different than what they might do any other day. Last time I checked Valentine’s Day was not a national holiday. Let’s not raise our expectations simply because the calendar page has flipped.

DO be honest. If you forgot it was Valentine’s Day, or never followed through with something you thought to do, acknowledge it. Consider whether the oversight was due to a sinful motive or selfish neglect. If so, confess and repent to your spouse. And Spouse – you forgive, as you have been forgiven much worse by your Father in heaven.

Do carve out a special moment. Valentine’s Day is 24 hours long. Work together to carve out a little piece of it as mutual declaration of your love for each other and your commitment to a God-glorifying marriage. Twenty minutes of ‘stop everything, you matter to me’ will do much more to build your marriage than panic driven, guilt motivated, budget busting last minute extravagance.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Merry Christmas!

"And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" (John 1:16)

What more fitting words can describe our year as families at Covenant Fellowship Church. It is in the fullness of the Son ‘born that man no more may die’ that we want to dedicate this week’s family blog to you, the husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, and children and youth of this church. Thank you for loving the Savior and serving Him with us. We love you and are inspired by the examples you set. May the Lord Jesus continue to pour out grace upon grace to all of you in the coming year.

Merry Christmas! Have a great holiday celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Mark Prater, on behalf of the Family Life Team.

Christmas Socks

“The hopeful children each hung an old stocking from the rough sawn oak mantle. ‘Pick the biggest sock you can find,’ one of the older boys encouraged a younger sister. ‘Remember, the bigger it is the more stuff you’ll get,’ he added. Then, as the last sock hung in place, the children stepped back to take in the full picture. The worn socks told a story. They were play socks, well worn, not the leggings of a wealthy family. They spoke of good times together, a carefree life, and the absence of shoes. One might have pitied their owners as poor if the message they spoke was not so warm. The parents, aware of the time, ushered their children off to bed. ‘The faster we get to sleep, the faster morning will come,’ a little boy shouted as he ran, and the others followed.

Then in the morning, the most wonderful surprise greeted the children. Instead of the worn hand-me-down socks they had tacked to the mantle the night before, they found the most beautiful embroidered Christmas stockings and each was filled with presents and chocolates.”

As I finished the story, my children’s eyes lit up with wonder as they hung their own worn socks on our fireplace mantle. They too had picked the largest socks they owned and now wondered just how many things Lois and I would be able to cram inside their footwear. “Off to bed” I ordered and my six children ran, eager to awake the next morning.

After all threat of their reappearing had past, Lois and I took down their worn socks and replaced them with beautifully embroidered and monogrammed stockings purchased for each one by their grandmother. We stuffed them full with presents and chocolates and then head off to bed ourselves, hoping to fall asleep fast that we might speed the arrival of morning ourselves. Little did our children suspect the entire story was a setup foreshadowing the merry surprise to come.

The Christmas morning shock, amazement, and surprise lives on as one of our fondest Christmas memories. Since that Christmas, grandma has since gone to be with the Lord, but those embroidered stockings get hung every year and greet each of our children filled with small gifts and goodies on Christmas morning.

Christmas Songs That Count

One of the downsides of having every other radio station on the dial playing Christmas music is that by around mid-December, say today, we’ve had just about enough of Wonderful Christmastime, not to mention Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer. I’m on a hunt for Christmas song download ideas. I want songs that both remind me of the season and draw me to the Savior.

If you’re like me in this, maybe we can all serve one another. The following is my own personal list of ten favorite versions of ‘true’ Christmas carols. All are available as downloads. It’s important to let you know these are personal favorites – my kids and Jill would give you a much different list. But here is mine with some comments. You’ll notice some standards are missing – no “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” for example. That’s because I haven’t found a recorded version that rises to favorite status.

What I’d like is to hear from you on your favorite versions of carols. If we get a good list we’ll post it next week so we can all go into Christmas week with fresh opportunities to worship. The only conditions are:

· We’re not looking for secular holiday songs, but for Christmas carols

· Songs need to be obtainable – preferably downloadable.

· No criticism of my list is allowed. Remember ‘good will toward men’ and all that.

Ten Songs for My Season (in no particular order)

The First Noel - BeBe and CeCe Winans (Love this version)

O Holy Night, Steve Green (Josh Groban is who you hear, but Steve Green’s older version gives me chills)

In the First Light, Glad (A great Bob Kauflin Song. I’m not a big fan of Glad, but I like what they do here. Todd Agnew has recently done it as well.)

One Quiet Moment, Glad (See above, minus Todd Agnew)

Christ the Lord Is Born Today, Sovereign Grace Music (My favorite song on a great album)

Little Town, Amy Grant (From her first album, sounds dated, but a nice idea. We did this as a Christmas special back in the Gauntlett Center, and it was a joy from first rehearsal to Christmas Eve)

Joy to the World, BeBe and CeCe Winans (I really like this version but would love a more traditional version suggestion)

O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Phillips, Craig and Dean (I love the way this builds, and the harmonies – joy in a minor key)

O Come All Ye Faithful, Steven Curtis Chapman (We did this as a Christmas special a few years ago as well – a very nice arrangement, though some unnamed worship team members would beg to disagree.)

The Little Drummer Boy, Harry Simone Chorale (I always thought this was an odd song, but one of my great memories as a kid was singing this arrangement in a combined children/adult choir at our church at the candlelight service. Takes me back).

So there you go. And please give me a “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” recommendation.

Answers to Tough Christmas Problems

Here are two problems that can sneak up on us every Christmas season:

· What kind of gifts will be really meaningful beyond the tearing of the wrapping paper?

· What are we going to do with all these people at our house?

The Family Life Blog comes to the rescue on both counts. If you’re looking for really meaningful gifts, we’ve got some great new resources in our Book Shoppe for folks of all ages. To make your shopping easy, take a look at the featured books and CD’s we have available this Christmas season in our holiday brochure, which you can access here.

Are you having a party or family gathering this Christmas season? If so, you’ll be wondering how to make it fun for everyone. One game we’ve used in parties over the years is a version of the old “Claymation” game, adapted for holiday themes. It is fast paced, doesn’t require any skill, and gets everybody involved. We’ve used it with family, with teens, and in an adult parties of up to thirty people.

Here are all the instructions… Christmas Claymation Game

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Lights

It’s the time of year to get the family in the car and do a Christmas light tour. You see the fireworks on the 4^th, do leaf watching in October why not do a Christmas light tour followed by a stop for hot chocolate at a convenience store or coffee shop?

If you don’t want to travel far, here is an idea to try. Do a drive of your surrounding neighborhoods and rate the houses you see on a scale from 1 to 10. In the end pick what you think is the best house (do a family vote – and talk about why you like it). At the end of your drive leave a note in the winner’s door (or even knock on the door and meet them) saying that you award them the best Christmas decorations of the _____ (Insert your family’s name) Annual Christmas Light Tour. Thank them for the great decorations and then add an invitation to our church’s Christmas concert.

If you see a house or a street that you think others on a tour would like to see, let us know the street and approximate location. If we get enough we’ll put together a tour you can take any night during the holidays.

If you’re looking for the big displays, here are a few places to go, some have admission but some are free.

Rose Tree Park just north of Media: Every year, during December through early January, the park is decorated for The Festival of Lights. The display features multicolored lights on our beautiful live trees along with familiar Christmas displays.

Directions: Off Route 1 (Media Bypass) to Route 252 (Providence Road) and Rose Tree Road.

Cost: Free

Herrs Potato Chip Factory Christmas Light display: Herrs holiday lights extravaganza has 180,000 lights in this year’s display and is open from 5pm until 7am. Check out their web site for more information at www.herrs.com/WhatsNew/SpecialEvents.html

Directions: Take 1-95 South to Route 322 West to Route 1 South. Exit Route 272 (Nottingham) and turn left. Travel for 50 yards, turn right onto Herr Drive and follow signs to the Herr's^® Snack Factory Tour™.

Cost: Free

Longwood Gardens - This year, Longwood is transformed into a winter wonderland filled with sparkling lights, fragrant flowers, joyous music and a dazzling ice skating extravaganza. Dancing fountains are synchronized to holiday music in the Open Air Theatre, and festive organ sing-alongs fill the Ballroom with the sounds of the season. Check out their website for show times at www.longwoodgardens.org. The light display is open from dusk to 9pm.

Directions: Longwood Gardens is located on US Route 1, about 3 miles northeast of Kennett Square, PA. Longwood is an easy drive and offers free parking!

Cost: Adults $16 and students $6 Children under 4 free.

Shady Brook Farms - Experience millions of lights illuminating acres of farmland. Whimsical Holiday displays and familiar characters. Drive through in the comfort of your own car or watch the show on a moonlit hayride. Take a look at their web site at www.shadybrookfarm.com for more details. They are open from Dusk to 10pm

Directions: Take I-95 to Exit 49 (Newtown/Yardley, formerly Exit 30) Follow Route 332 West ¼ mile to traffic light. Turn left onto Stoney Hill Rd. The entrance is ¼ mile down the road on the right.

Cost is $20 per car load.

O Christmas Tree; O Christmas Tree???!

We’re at the height of Christmas Tree Season, so our Family Life Amateur Arborists are here to weigh in with advice on getting your tree.

If you’re buying a cut tree:

Check for moisture content by picking the tree up by the trunk and forcefully hitting the bottom trunk against the ground. If a lot of needles fall off, the tree is already dried out. If the tree passes this test, break off the tip of a small branch. If the inside looks green and doesn’t snap when broken, the tree is probably fresh enough to last the season.

When picking out a tree be sure to look at the base of the tree as well as the shape. If the tree trunk is too large in diameter to fit into your stand, pass it up.

If you are cutting your own tree:

Cut it as close to the ground as possible. That leaves you with more trunk to work with when you get home.

Call your tree farm in advance and ask about insect infestation in their trees. Small Aphids, some mites and spiders lay eggs on evergreens and can hatch out in your home once the tree gets warm. Ask you tree farm if they have experienced any problems with insects and if they will refund your money if your tree turns out to be infested. If they say they will not refund your money look elsewhere.

Setting up your tree:

Cut at least an inch off the stump before putting it into your stand. Cut it off just before you put it in the stand and then add water immediately. A popular recipe for the water to help your tree live longer is, 2 gallons of HOT WATER: 2 cups of Karo syrup, 2 oz. of liquid bleach plus 2 pinches of Epsom salt, 1/2 teaspoon of Boraxo (You can get this at the supermarket), and 1 teaspoon of chelated iron (you can get this at garden centers). Some recipes call for bleach. If you use one with bleach make sure to mix it away from your living room rug.

Before setting up your tree, purchase a large tree removal bag and set the tree up on the bag. Once you remove the tree at the end of the season from the stand you can pull the bag up over the tree and avoid dropping needles all through your house.

To avoid a fire hazard, keep water in your tree at all times, inspect your wiring for missing bulbs and frayed wires, Don’t plug more strings of lights together than the package recommends as the thin cords can heat up if too many lights are on one line. Always turn your tree lights off when you go to bed and don’t keep the lights on all day. Don’t use candles close to a tree. Double check that the batteries in your smoke detectors are fresh and keep a fire large fire extinguisher nearby. Dry Christmas trees are fire hazards.

Finally, here’s a suggestion from one of the guys, who has apparently learned some wisdom from the experience. Feel free to guess who it is.

If it’s 14 or more feet tall, anchor it to the wall so that it doesn’t topple over three times before Christmas – not that that would ever happen.

Whatever Happened to the Mayflower?

Happy Thanksgiving!

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name O Most High

~ Psalm 9:1-2 ~

If you’re sitting around the dinner table today, or sitting in front of a typical Thanksgiving football blowout you may want to get some conversation started. Nothing like a good mystery get everybody engaged. Why don’t you ask the question,

‘Who knows the mystery of the Mayflower?’

Be prepared first to make some connections. The Mayflower is not the latest M. Night Shyamalan mystery. And while it is a moving company, that’s not the reason it is famous. The Mayflower is the ship in which the Pilgrims (Get the Thanksgiving connection?) sailed to America.

Anyway, chances are that most folks in your group won’t know that it is believed that the Mayflower was dismantled and moved to the Buckinghamshire area of England, where it was rebuilt as a barn. And the barn is still there today! The Mayflower Barn is a very popular tourist destination in England – especially for Americans.

Is it the real deal? Or just a tourist trap? Pass the cranberry sauce and let the debate begin!

And let us at the Family Life Blog know if you solve the mystery.

Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

The idea of setting aside times for National Thanksgiving is part of our heritage since the founding of our Republic. But in October 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for a National Day of Thanksgiving to be Celebrated every November. After three years of agonizing national civil war, hope had shown over the horizon with crucial military victories on July 4 at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. In little over a month the president would be traveling to the battlefield at Gettysburg to consecrate the nation’s first national military cemetery – where his 2 minute address to the crowd would echo into history as perhaps the defining expression of what it cost to build this country.

But in his Thanksgiving Proclamation, Lincoln simply wanted to lift his people’s eyes from the travail around them to see the sustaining hand of God. His opening words could easily be spoken to us today:

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God."

In this proclamation Lincoln goes on to implore all people to conscious and vocal thanksgiving for both the blessings they enjoy, but also for the mercy that does not treat them as their sins deserve. And he ends by calling then to prayer for the great moral struggle in the land – foreshadowing the words he would speak on November 19, 144 years ago today in his Gettysburg Address:

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

Let us remember the cost of freedom still being paid. And let us thank Almighty God for our freedom in Christ, purchased for us by the shed blood of the Savior.

Here is the full text of Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, Delivered October 3, 1863.

Here is the full text of the Gettysburg Address, delivered November 19, 1863.

Thanksgiving is a Holiday Too

Thanksgiving is a holiday that seems to be more and more like a little speed bump in the decorating rush between Halloween and Christmas. Or maybe its becoming more like ‘Black Friday Eve’ – the time to rest and fuel up before we slam into the Christmas shopping season. One year we got so pre-occupied with the impending Christmas holidays that we actually forgot to pull our turkey from the freezer with enough time to defrost it. Initially I felt embarrassed that we forgot Thanksgiving, that is until I saw a dozen other people at the Acme scrambling to find a fresh turkey for the same reason.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that deserves more attention. So, to help you and your family prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in a meaningful way, here are a few thanksgiving ideas you can consider this year.

1. Place a basket in the center of your table now and every day from now until Thanksgiving have each person in your family write something they are thankful for, from this past year, on a slip of paper and place it in the basket. Then, on Thanksgiving just after the meal, before dessert, pass the basket around and have everyone read a slip of paper. End the time of thanksgiving with a prayer. If you really want to get creative, cut construction paper into leaf shapes and use those to write on.

2. Decorate early. Decorate your dining room for Thanksgiving with traditional fall colors. Pick up a small leftover pumpkin and some gourds from your local supermarket and farm store to use for the table centerpiece. You can write things God did in your family that you are thankful for right on the pumpkin so that all the meal long everyone can see just how the Lord blessed you this past year.

3. Take time between your main meal and dessert on Thanksgiving to sing a few worship choruses, giving thanks to the Lord.

4. Invite a single to join your family who might not be able to travel home for the holiday.

5. Make Thanksgiving cookies (ginger snaps, oatmeal, and snickerdoodles are good choices) and give them out to your neighbors. Don’t drop the basket and run, stop to talk. You might find the gesture provokes some great evangelistic conversation. After all, God, is the unnamed subject of this holiday.

6. Start a Thanksgiving tradition that you only do on this holiday. Here are a few ideas: bob for apples (sounds corny but kids love it), make caramel apples, home made ice cream or hot cider, light a fire in a fire ring outside and enjoy a campfire.

7. Memorize a different “Give thanks” passage each year as a family. (Pick one from these Psalms 7:17,28:7, 75:1, 100:4, 105:1, 106:1, 107:1)

8. Help your children write meaningful thank you notes or cards to people who have been a blessing them over the past year. Mail them early enough to arrive just before Thanksgiving.

Oh, and by the way, we already purchased our Thanksgiving turkey but if you see me on church this Sunday, remind me to take it out of the freezer for Lois. I’d love to avoid last minute turkey scrounging this year.

Halloween – The Aftermath

The timing couldn’t have been better!

This year, I finally had a reason to avoid Halloween that even my neighbors – the ones with the orange pumpkin lights in the trees and giant fuzzy spiders in the flower beds – could understand. Halloween is hazardous! I came across this frightening warning from the Consumer Product Safety Commission: Halloween Skull Pails Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard. Dog food, Mattel toys, and now Halloween is laced with lead! Surely I could count on their support to skip Halloween this year!

But Noooo! Not even environmental hazards can kill Halloween. So here we are once again, the oddballs of the neighborhood – but at least we’re lead free. But now that the festivities are over, how can we make the day after Halloween special. I’ve done some research and have come up with some things to help you avoid those Halloween day after blues.

• Did you know that Starbucks officially kicks off the holiday season on the day after Halloween by bringing out their annual gingerbread latte. Did you also know that Halloween is the best shopping day of the year – for clowns. Why not make the day after Halloween “treat a clown to a latte’ day.

• Don’t know what to do with that Jack-o-lantern? One web site suggests “starting a new family tradition” of burying your carved up pumpkin. Consider this cheerful thought: “It is especially fun for family gatherings and keeps the children interested for one more day as they dig a grave for burying the pumpkins”.

• Pack up the family for a surprise vacation to the “Baltic Sea Day-After-Halloween Cycling Race”. I think its in Sweden. Don’t know if it is regular cycles or sea cycles that they’re racing. But it would be fun to find out – I think.

So there you have it. The best ideas for the day after Halloween from the internet. But as I think about it, maybe its best just to have devotions, toss out the leftover candy and go about the Lord’s business. Just remember – don’t keep those lead-covered skull pails where the kids can get them.

Halloween at My Door

BOO! Tonight is Halloween night. And if you’re just realizing it, you know what fear feels like right about now! Trust me, I know. I’ve been there.

Every year my wife Lois and I scramble to figure out what we should do with Halloween. We want to reach out to the families who live around us but we don’t feel comfortable supporting this holiday the way it gets celebrated by some of our neighbors. I’m thinking right now about one home with a lawn ornamented by a 20 foot diameter spider web equipped with a life-size person stuck in the middle.

Last year we bought some candy and, although we didn’t have our kids go out to other homes, we let them greet the trick-or-treaters at our door. Big mistake. People thought we were torturing our kids, forcing them to give away all our candy and never getting any of their own.

We’ve also tried the duck and hide approach. You know, turn out all the lights, eat supper in the dark, pretend you’re not home and hope people ignore you. But it always feels like we are in the witness protection program. Then there is the cut and run method; find a good harvest party and get out of Dodge before it gets dark. But that approach doesn’t give us a way to reach out on Halloween.

This year we’ve decided to try a modified duck and hide. I will give out candy to the neighbors while the rest of the family spends time together downstairs. That way I can relate to the neighbors without them reporting me to the sugar deprivation authorities for cruelty to my children. We’ve learned not to place a lot of stock in Halloween as the perfect evangelism opportunity. Sometimes the adults don’t even come up the walk. But who knows what outreach opportunities are lurking just on the other side of our door – opportunities that can begin small on Halloween, but be followed up on in the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons ahead. I just I hope I don’t scare anybody with my ‘suburban dad’ costume.