A Tradition Unlike Any Other

One of our Christmas morning traditions is enjoying Sharon's world-famous cinnamon rolls! They are spectacular. And we get to enjoy them twice. First, we enjoy the wonderful aroma as they bake in the oven. And then we enjoy the warm bundle of goodness as we wash the first bite down with a cold glass of milk!

You can click on the photo above to see a short slide show of our cinnamon rolls. And if you're curious, you can probably coax the recipe out of Sharon by emailing her at KimPagel@mchsi.com.

I personally promise to expedite the recipe to you if you promise to share a cinnamon roll with me from your first pan! It's a tradition unlike any other!

The Bottom of the 9th

Tom Rinaldi from ESPN has done another incredible human interest story from the field of sports. He is the best story teller I have ever heard. This piece on John Challis is a must see.

The John Challis story was brought to the nations attention after Mike White from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote a great article that was published May 4, 2008. John Challis was diagnosed with cancer on June 23, 2006. He was only given several months to live. He exceeded doctors expectations before passing away August 18 of this year.

John Challis was an ordinary young man who determined to use his circumstance for good. Here is what he had to say about his view of life.

"Sometimes I cry, but people cry for all different kinds of reasons," he said. "Sometimes I just want to know why, but I think I figured that out. God wanted me to get sick because he knew I was strong enough to handle it. I'm spreading His word and my message. By doing that, I'm doing what God put me here to do."

In a little over two years, John Challis touched thousands of lives. Over 1500 attended the visitation after his death. Mike White wrote about the visitation and funeral service and the impact John Challis had on his own personal life. Tom Rinaldi and an ESPN producer attended the funeral, not for professional but personal reasons.

John Challis spent most of his final 2 1/2 years thinking about how to impact others. He was mature beyond his years. John's final act of selflessness occurred during his own funeral service.

Before he died, John asked Joe Signore, a close friend of the family, to give his eulogy. But John had made Mr. Signore promise he would do one thing at the funeral. Mr. Signore asked John's younger sister, Lexie, and his mother and father to leave their first-row pew and come to the front of the church. "Lexie, Gina, Scott. John made me promise to do this," he said. "He told me that you had gotten so many people to applaud him. Now it's your turn." At once, everyone rose and gave the Challises a standing ovation.

Even at his funeral service, John Challis wanted the focus of attention placed on others. John Challis was an incredible young man who knew how to live, and knew how to die. He stands as an inspiration to every person who is ten runs down going into the bottom of the 9th inning.

Christmas Cookie Art

We decorated Christmas cookies last night. It has become an annual tradition. This is the 4th straight year that Erin has been with us for this event. Erin turns decorating Christmas cookies into a work of art! You can click on the photo above to see a slide show.

Heather, Jon's girlfriend, was able to join us this year also. Heather is a nursing major at Allen Hospital in Waterloo. She decorated the "nurse" cookie. Erin and Jon teamed up to do the "bride and groom" pair. Jon put a mustache on the groom after Sharon showed off our old wedding photos! It was all great fun!

A Swing'n Christmas

We went to the Big Band Christmas Concert last night at New Covenant. It was awesome. If you didn't attend last night, make sure you don't miss it this evening. Don't let a little snow stop you from having a memorable evening!

You can click on the photo above to see a slide show of the concert. Kudos to all the musicians who participated! And a special "thank you" to Pastor Gary! Our hearts were touched by the story of Christmas as told through the big band sound! It was a swing'n Christmas.

Dessert Open House

We are hosting a Dessert Open House for Erin and Jason in our home. You can choose between two different times:

• 7:00-8:00 PM on Monday, December 15
• 7:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, December 18

Come and learn about the Timberline student ministry that Jason and Erin are involved with. You click on the image above to see a short video on Timberline.

You can click here to get a map to our home at 712 71st Street NE, Cedar Rapids. We hope to see you at one of the gatherings.

Intellectually Bankrupt

In case you haven't heard, the December 15 issue of Newsweek's is titled The Religious Case for Gay Marriage. Lisa Miller's cover story attempts to take a look at what the Scriptures have to say about marriage and homosexuality, but only becomes a soap box for Ms. Miller's own preconceived conclusions.

The Scriptures? This is what Ms. Miller has to say about them:
"A mature view of scriptural authority requires us, as we have in the past, to move beyond literalism. The Bible was written for a world so unlike our own, it's impossible to apply its rules, at face value, to ours." "At this point the authority of the Bible is reduced to whatever "universal truths" we can distill from its (supposed) horrifyingly backward and oppressive texts."

You can read a good review of the article at CitizenLink and an even better review at Christianity Today.

But what I find most disturbing as a follower of Jesus Christ and someone who considers the Bible to be God inspired, is the editorial by Jon Meacham. Here is Mr. Meacham's view of someone who looks to the Scriptures for truth.

"No matter what one thinks about gay rights—for, against or somewhere in between —this conservative resort to biblical authority is the worst kind of fundamentalism. Given the history of the making of the Scriptures and the millennia of critical attention scholars and others have given to the stories and injunctions that come to us in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament, to argue that something is so because it is in the Bible is more than intellectually bankrupt—it is unserious, and unworthy of the great Judeo-Christian tradition."

To argue that something is so because it is in the Bible is more than intellectually bankrupt! I think I just got called a "fool" by Mr. Meacham! Horrifyingly backward and oppressive texts! So much for religious tolerance!

How should we respond to all of this? Mr. Meacham says "Let the letters and e-mails come." I don't advocate letter writing or hand wringing. And why not? Because I take my directions not from the editor of Newsweek but from the timeless truth of Scripture. Passages like 1 Peter 2:11-12, 15:

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

And 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since the in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

Let's not be surprised when those who live in darkness reject the light. Let's not be surprised when those who reject God's moral law declare those who follow it to be fools. Let's not be surprised when we find that we are rejected by our own culture. We are aliens and strangers passing through a foreign land.

Instead of shock and surprise, let's pray, care and share. Let's be about silencing our critics by doing good. Let's live out our mission, not afraid to be called fools by those who misunderstand. Or to be called intellectually bankrupt by editors of Newsweek!

Three Cheers

We traveled to Gallagher Bluedorn yesterday to hear Josh perform in the UNI Men's Glee Club Christmas Variety Show. And what a show it was! You can click on the photo above to see a slide show of the evening.

The 116 voice men's choir was awesome! I especially enjoyed Mary Did You Know, Ave Maria, and The First Noel sung to candle light! David Hoobler did an awesome job in the Men's Camerata. And Caroling, Caroling sung by the Vocal Jazz Ensemble may have been my favorite!

A Star-Crossed Christmas was a Star Wars meets Star Trek Christmas play. There were some classic lines and scenes! And of course, the show ends with its traditional Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairies performed by the Arthur Murder Dancers!

We thoroughly enjoyed the 2 1/2 hour show. Three cheers to Dr. Barrett and all those who performed.