'Keeping Christmas'

It is unbelievable to think that Christmas Day 2008 has arrived. I am writing this as we are driving to Christmas dinner with Mom & Dad in Indiana. The past days of gift wrapping, baking, and special programs are already a blurred memory as I now watch the icy mid-western landscape zip by through the car windows.

As I can finally catch my breath I wonder have I indeed ‘kept Christmas’ in a way that is honoring to the King of kings? How would one even gauge such a concept? If the measure is being busy with Christmas preparations and events, then I have succeeded.

December began with a local production of Handel’s Messiah at our church. My heart and soul soared even as the music reached its crescendo at the conclusion of the Hallelujah Chorus. The words of scripture became alive with the voices and stringed instruments that day. Our Messiah has come…Hallelujah!

Christmas cards were prepared and sent, and joyfully received. Decorations and gift wrapping consumed large blocks of time as did extra cooking and baking. But, it has become a large part of how I ‘keep Christmas’ for myself, our family and friends.

The best part of ‘keeping Christmas’ this year, however, has been the moments that I have slowed down and considered what Christmas is really all about. Our sermons at church during Advent helped me to keep a correct perspective and enlarged my vision. The panoramic view of Christmas challenged me to consider the Kingdom of God that invaded earth over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem and what the implications are for those who are called to be part of His kingdom even now.

HOPE came to earth that first Christmas and remains with us even now!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart, prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing.

Countin' Blessings...

When upon life's billows, you are tempest tossed

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost

Count your many blessings name them one by one'

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done

Count your blessings name them one by one

Count your blessings see what God has done

Count your blessings name them one by one

Count your many blessings See what God has done

Are you ever burdened with a load of care

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear

Count your many blessings every doubt will fly

And you will be singing as the days go by

Wednesday I was blessed to take 40 minutes out of my workday at the church office to share in our church's monthly service at one of our local nursing homes. Since it was the day before Thanksgiving I thought it appropriate to share some thoughts I had been personally processing in regards to the holiday at hand.

We sang the song, "Count Your Blessings". The residents all seemed to know that old favorite and sang and whistled along to the best of their abilities. It's a song that for me brings warm memories of my growing up years back in our small church in Michigan. I loved singing that song because of the fun melody, the lighthearted rhythm, and the 4 part harmony that was such a rich part of my heritage.

But even as a child, the concept of 'counting my blessings' was one that I could grasp and consider, even when at times things in my childish world did not always seem just or fair. I knew that in spite of it all, I had many blessings that I could literally think about and 'count'. And even as a child I knew that this honored God.

Now as an adult, those words still challenge me to right thinking. Philippians 4:4-9 speaks about these things:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

We are admonished to cultivate right thinking or Thankfulness by this passage. Cultivating implies working. Randy has finished his fall tillage or cultivation of the soil. He does that to prepare the soil to be able to receive the seed in the spring and for optimal growth to happen. So, too, we can cultivate our hearts by such a simple exercise as counting our blessings...no matter what.

Later in the same chapter the Apostle Paul speaks from his own personal experience in Philippians 4:11-12:

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

We are to learn contentment. Learning is a choice, just as cultivating our hearts is a choice...not the natural way we tend to operate. So, just as I shared the above thoughts with the dear folks at the nursing home Wednesday, I continue to consider them for myself and seek to commit to cultivating a heart that gives thanks in the midst of trials and is learning contentment with the help of God's Spirit speaking these truths into my heart and mind.

Thanksgiving here was blessed. Food abounded and fellowship with family was sweet. We do have much to give thanks for in a world that is full of trouble and trials. God is still in control..our HOPE rests in Him.

Be Still

The glory of the Autumn leaves comes upon us quietly, gradually, but with splendor and beauty that is unequaled in its ability to take our breath away with awe. Friday I was able to have a brief moment in time to drink deeply of the fall specter of the changing and falling leaves in the midst of a too full schedule.

I was traveling home from presenting my first MMA assembly in Eastern Indiana (near Cincinnati OH) early Friday afternoon. Since Randy & Steve were still harvesting the crops I was enlisted to go and show the assembly for a wonderful Middle School. The MMA shows are loud, compelling and non-stop action and narration which grabs the attention of young people through their music, movies and language. That is wonderful and great as clearly the students responded by applauding, laughing, singing along, and then becoming silent during the emotionally charged parts of the show.

As I left the school, however, my soul longed for quiet. There was much to process, much to think about and much to pray about. The sun seemed to illuminate a deep and glorious beauty everywhere I looked as I drove on the Indiana interstate. I had a thought...why not truly enjoy the beauty of the day, and not drive by at 70 MPH (yes, that's the speed limit in IN on some stretches of I74). I set the GPS for Shades State Park which was on my way home.

The last time we had been at Shades State Park was October 1991. Steve & Greg were 6 years old. We spent a weekend hiking at Shades and Turkey Run Park as well as checking out the Covered Bridges that pepper the region. It was special that I was able to go back Friday, soak up the beauty of the leaves, and spend much time in quiet reflective meditation and prayer. The afternoon was not about conquering 3 trails, or taking prize winning photos (I did not have my camera). The afternoon was instead a very precious gift from God's hand to my very soul. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

The day began loudly and exuberantly with the MMA assembly, VOICES, but the afternoon was a soothing symphony of God's majestic, artistic touch in a small corner of IN. I was renewed and refreshed spiritually by my detour. I savored my time alone with my Lord and again acknowledged that He alone is sovereign in all things...even in decreeing the number of days He has ordained in advance for each one of His own. I rested also in the fact that some day He indeed will be exalted among the nations. That truth enlarges my perspective, especially in light of the upcoming election Tuesday.

So, 'Be Still...' enjoy the sunshine, celebrate the change of seasons, and know that God is indeed GOD.

Everyone has a story

Yesterday afternoon we had a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to speak our shared story within the confines of a mobile recording studio.


We were invited by State Farm Insurance, one of the sponsors of StoryCorps, a neat program that is heard on NPR, to share the story of our journey on a 40 minute recording that will be filed and saved in the Library of Congress. While a small fraction of the stories recorded do make it on the air or on the web page, it is really not about that. StoryCorps is about listening to each other share their own unique stories. It is a celebration of family, friendship, and community and all the experiences that occur.


The StoryCorps web page was excellent with all the details of what to expect and how to prepare for the interview/exchange. I prepared by selecting several key 'starter questions' and printing them for reference. Alex, our StoryCorps facilitator was also so helpful and kind as she guided us along in the process. She even included our story in an entry she added to the StoryCorps Blog


Forty minutes may seem like a long time to fill, but among family, the moments fly. We talked more in a dialogue fashion than an interview type conversation...however, Randy did serve as the unofficial 'interviewer'. We smiled as we talked about memories of Greg, we laughed as Steve shared some stories of boyhood adventures with Greg.


We grieved anew when we relived the events of January 17, 2003. Amazing how time, years even, passes yet the memories are seared forever in our hearts and minds. One thing I recounted was the hurt I saw in the eyes of others (family, church family, friends and neighbors). We truly are not islands that live lives independent of others...when one hurts we all hurt.


Steve talked about how much he missed the companionship and love of his brother. He talked about how he took Greg's love, friendship, and acceptance for granted. Now, it is gone on this side of heaven. He spoke about the quiet nights that he and Greg would spend together out on the old swing set-fort that the boys had built with Randy...just swinging and talking about life.


We also talked about the journey Steve has had from coma to rehab to daily pushing through the lingering effects of brain injury. Many aspects have been nightmarish. But we have been witnesses to the miraculous in the midst of impossibilities, too.


Finally we talked about purpose in the midst of it all. We talked about the school assemblies through Motivational Media Assemblies that have been and will be. The young lives that will be saved because of the impact of the story. I also rejoice that with each life saved, a mother and father will not experience grieving through a memorial service, or will not be caring for permanently disabled children due to a car crash.


The HOPE that we all cling to is knowing that some day we will be united again. We will be together with Greg. Steve will be restored. We will love and laugh and live as God intended us to be.

Another Year

Another Maranatha sunset signaled the end of summer and the beginning of another harvest here on the farm!

The past 12 months have ushered in moments of great joy and rejoicing as well as pain and mourning in our family. We have celebrated the victories and improvements Steve continues to experience, but have also had times when we have grieved, anew, the hard journey of traumatic brain injury that he navigates through at times not so successfully.

Randy's father went home to be with Jesus in February. While the weather was bleak (a brief blizzard) the day of his funeral, there was joy in the midst of our tears of sorrow...because of the very real hope and promise that some day we will see him again. We now have one more of our family waiting to greet us someday.

Steve's big news as promised last year is his new adventure with raising beef cattle. He has connected with his 60 or so head of cattle and seems to have a way with them. We have enjoyed the fruits of his labor already as have others who have tried the new 'Central Lean Beef'.

The other rather ambitious endeavor the guys are engaged in is a partnership with Motivational Media Assemblies. When they are not in the fields, Randy & Steve have presented assemblies to school children of all ages as well as some conferences featuring 40 minute presentations packed with the latest in movie clips, music, and stories all aimed as inspiring and equipping students to avoid bad choices, and aspire to be their best. This year's show actually has a brief clip with our story of loss due to a car crash. We pray that young lives will be impacted by the powerful messages in the show as well as the words that Steve & Randy share at the end of each assembly.

Our faith in the Living Hope provides the energy to keep on keeping on (sharing our story/ living through the journey)