On the Polar Express...

There's the logo for our new sermon series here at Delaware Grace.

The other night, I discovered that a church in Cincinnati is also doing a series by that very same name! Horizon Community Church is doing a 5-week look at some of the more popular movies of Christmas. They started with A Christmas Story.

Anyhow, Jennie and I watched The Polar Express last night. I remember being at a ministry conference in 2004 when they were giving out free tickets to an advanced screening. As if the movie had something to do with faith.

Well, "they" were right on. This movie has a LOT to do with faith. I must have found seven or eight great clips from this movie that address the issue of and search for faith.

The main character is supposed to be Tom Hanks as a little boy. He really wants to believe in Santa Claus, the North Pole, and the whole story of Christmas.

I don't want to ruin the movie for anyone... But if you want a movie that can really take you back to the wonder, the fantasy, the excitement of Christmas, I think this is that kind of movie.

Quite frankly, I expected NOT to like it. I've had some people tell me it wasn't a good movie. I have my mom telling me "it got weird" in a couple of spots. It may not be a movie for everyone.

For whatever reason, the movie hit a special cord with me. The main character really wanted to believe. Much of his interactions deal with the power of believing. The power of seeing the unseen. How faith must come before actions.

Tom Hanks must play ten characters in the movie. One of his characters says quite clearly, "Sometimes, the most real things are the things we can't see." How true.

The trailer for this movie starts out with a narrator saying, "What if there was a place beyond your imagination, and to get there, all you have to do is believe?"

Well, I think there IS such a place. In fact, I think experiencing life with God is such a place.

And that's precisely why I really liked The Polar Express.

The True Meaning...

For the next four weeks, we'll be focusing on Christmas. If you haven't bought gifts for anyone yet, your clock is now ticking. If you haven't made your Christmas wish list yet, people are buying you things you might not want. Every year, we celebrate and enjoy Christmas for so many good reasons. We might even entertain discussion or prayer about the "true meaning of Christmas."

Several months ago, I got excited about the idea of doing a Christmas sermon series that connected with some of the most memorable and loved Christmas movies. I am committed to preaching straight from Scripture, and use culture as a way to connect. We're going to focus on the gospel accounts of Christ's prophecy, birth, and reception. We'll probe the Bible's account of "Christmas" and examine the most important virtues of the season. Here's a schedule of four powerful virtues of Christmas, as found in the Gospels:

Sunday, December 4 - "Believe" - Matthew 1 and the calling of Joseph
Sunday, December 11 - "Love" - John 3 and 1 John 4
Sunday, December 18 - "Give" - Luke 1 and 2
Sunday, December 25 - "Receive" - John 1

Since this is called "Reel Christmas" and we want to connect faith with life and culture... I will be looking for Christmas movies and clips that inspire us to "Believe," "Love," "Give," and "Receive" in the God-given meaning of Christmas.

Some movies that are being considered...
- The Polar Express
- It's a Wonderful Life
- Elf
- The Christmas Carol
- Christmas Vacation
- The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
- Home Alone
- Miracle on 34th Street

Can you think of others?

Can you think of a scene from any of these movies that would inspire people (you included) to greater levels of BELIEVING, LOVING, GIVING, or RECEIVING?

Just curious....

Intensity, Emotion, Feeling...

This Saturday, Ohio State will play Michigan in football.

When you "love" something or someone, you wind up placing a lot of thought, emotion, and loyalty toward them. I have been an Ohio State fan since about 1982. Growing up in Ohio, most of us root for our home teams. OSU is the only large football school in the state, the only one in the national picture every year. Growing up in a football county (Stark County - home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and much of football's grass roots including Paul Brown, the Massillon Tigers, and the Canton Bulldogs), I have always loved to follow, watch, and play football.

While I usually challenge people on how "flippantly" we use the word "love".... I do use the word personally. I do love Ohio State football. I root for, support, follow, study, preach, and talk Ohio State football.

This morning, Jennie was sick, and so I brought Allie into Daycare today. Since it is Ohio State vs. Michigan week, I dressed Allie up in her Ohio State shirt, her Ohio State socks, and her Ohio State windbreaker. She also wore blue jeans and a diaper, in case you were wondering. I was so proud to bring her in with that outfit on, and walked her around the hallways to show everybody.

After I dropped her off, I went to work. I suppose I should let you know that our church hosts the daycare, so I work in the same building that Allie plays in all day.

Just a half hour ago, the door to my office opens slowly.

My beautiful daughter Allie walks in.

But something

is very

different.

My face froze in shock, amazement, frustration, and love....

Someone in the daycare or church staff had dressed Allie up in Maize and Blue.

For those of you who do not know, those are the colors of Michigan. NOT the colors of Ohio.
These are colors I swore never to put on any of my children. These are colors that symbolize the evil regime up north. These are the colors more fit to be seen on toilet paper than on children's clothing.

In that moment, I was really stunned. I didn't know what to do.

Here I am, senior pastor of a church... leader of a staff... and someone has dressed my daugher up in the garb of the enemy.

What would you do?

I have always "loved" Ohio State. (No, not "Love" in the God-sense or the family-sense.. you know what I mean.)

As a result, I have always "hated" Michigan. (No, not "hate" in the sinful sense where you condemn people. Again, you know what I mean.)

In a sports sense, this was still an emotional moment for me. Makes me love Ohio State even more. Makes me love my daughter even more. Makes me hate Michigan even more.

Any suggestions on how I could or should retaliate?

Meanwhile, I have this huge confidence that the best kind of retaliation happens on the field. Ohio State is 3-1 against Michigan since Jim Tressel arrived as head coach of the Buckeyes. It's a tough rivalry and anything can happen, but I think Ohio State is going to win.

My prediction: Ohio State 35, Michigan 13.

Christmas List...

By now, you've probably had a few people ask you what you want for Christmas.

I have, as at least the Underwoods, Waltas, and Jennie inquired as to my yule-tide wishes.

I don't know exactly what it is, but my perspective on Christmas and gifts has changed somewhere along the line.

Usually, I feel guilty thinking about what I "want" for Christmas. I realize I have everything I need. In fact, if you cut my possessions in half, I'd still have everything I need. Cut them in half again, and I'd still... you get the point. Ours is a nation of excess, a culture of comfort.

When I realize that I don't really "need" anything, I start to think about "legitimate" wants. New clothes. Money for school. Gift certificates to take my wife out for dinner. Stuff for our baby or our family.

Somewhere in my American, white-middle-class past, I learned to give into the "non-legitimate" wants for Christmas. I grab the Best Buy ad out of the Sunday paper every week. I go online to look at the latest gadgets and movies and such. I look at my list of "legitimate wants" like a new shirt or whatever and fight feelings of dissatisfaction. Like toys are supposed to make me happy. Like the iPod Shuffle just isn't big enough or cool enough. Like the 150 books I already own and want to read aren't complete without book #151. Like my "Ohio State room" isn't exciting enough without one more bobblehead, picture, or program.

As I sort through my Christmas list... As I define some things as "wants" and others as "non-legitimate wants"...

Right here in Delaware, there are people who cannot afford to give their kids a Christmas gift. There are people who rely on food pantries for their Christmas dinner. There are those without a home.

And I have a whole room in my house devoted to a football team.

Just thinking "out loud" on paper, I guess. Not sure where this is leading, I just know I feel this to some extent every Christmas. Don't we all?

But what to do about it?

Calendar Check

Jennie and I could hardly get to sleep last night, talking about how fast the past year has flown by. It's been over a year now since we started life here in Delaware. So much has changed, so much has stayed the same. God has blessed our lives in so many ways.

I have learned a lot about myself.

We have learned a lot about ourselves.

We have learned a lot about God, family, friendships, and time.

I am 31 years old, Jennie is 27. All of the sudden, we feel like life has hit this pace where the months go as fast as weeks used to. Where weeks go as fast as days used to. Many of you know what I am talking about.

But there is still power in the moment. Power in a few minutes - enough, at least, to update my journal with a little sentimentality and reflection.

I have learned that I love to preach. It is probably my top spiritual gift, and a passion and privilege to be able to do this thing twice a week. I like having the freedom to experiment, to question, to probe, and to develop. I like knowing that, even if I think a sermon goes bad, other people will love it and God uses it.

Rest assured, I don't intentionally plan bad sermons. Just some are better than others, and that's life.

Yesterday, I felt sick to my stomach and preached a sermon that challenged some people. We're starting this study through Jonah, and I preached through the events in chapter one - backwards. It was fun to at least experiment by preaching a passage backwards and rewinding every few minutes to ask the question - "How did we get here?"

I have learned that I am terrible at keeping in touch with friends. I rely too much on this silly blog, instant messenger, or e-mail, and I'm starting to get sick of it. I'd rather pick up the phone and call someone than hope he checks his e-mail.

I have also learned that, the longer you go without keeping in touch, the less you feel like you have the "right" to call them now. I know that's not true, so I'll probably start calling some of you for the first time in a long time. Then again, I'm admittedly bad at keeping in touch, so I'd better not make that claim.

iChat is good sometimes, though.

I guess I am done with this post. I miss you all, though.

Jennie is 33 weeks pregnant, sometimes really tired and congested even.
Allie is saying new words like "clock" and "truck" and "butterfly" - although they don't always sound correct. We'll work on enunciation.
Luke kicks a lot, and is pretty big already. Someone told me today that the largest baby ever born at Grady Hospital here in Delaware was like 11 pounds or something. Not a record we want to break, Luke.

Fumble Recovery?

allie football
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Definitely our best Halloween ever. Allie played the part of the Ohio State cheerleader who also liked to throw the football. For much of the night, she walked around the neighborhood with two snickers bars firmly clenched in her fists.

Very Happy Halloween...

allie halloween outfit
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Last night, we held "trick or treat" in our neighborhood. Of course Allie was an Ohio State cheerleader. She had a lot of fun running around the neighborhood with Jennie. She also liked shouting "Hi-yeee" and "Bye-eee" to people who came to our house for candy. For a break from all that action, she chased a football around the yard.