Merry Christmas World
December 24, 2008 by Tony
Filed under Compassion, View-All-Posts
It’s Christmas time again. My kids are excited. The youngest are expecting Santa to bring some great presents. My oldest knows the scoop on Santa but there is still excitement about a celebration that includes presents.
The Christmas Song
December 23, 2008 by Tony
Filed under Encourage, View-All-Posts
My son wrote another song…I need to get this recorded so I can share the tune as well.
You’re beautiful.
You’re Glorious.
You’re Wonderful.
You came to save us.
You’re the Prince of Peace.
Above all things,
You’re the Lord of Lords.
You’re the King of Kings.
You’re the mighty God.
Emanuel.
The Messiah.
You make all things well.
Born in a manger,
With shepherds at your side.
Three rich kings,
On December twenty five.
Frankincense so sweet,
Gold so bright,
Myrrh in a box,
Under that big star’s light
You’re beautiful.
You’re Glorious.
You’re Wonderful.
You’re Jesus!
Bowl Season Blues
December 21, 2008 by Tony
Filed under Encourage, View-All-Posts
I love college football. I think it’s because I went to school at Texas A&M and it’s hard not to fall in love with the spirit and rich tradition there. I’ll watch pro football as well. I’ll root for the Houston Texans but it’s not the same as the Aggies.
Read more
On the twelfth day of Christmas
December 20, 2008 by Tony
Filed under Compassion, View-All-Posts
My true love gave to me, a goat?
How about an Ipod, a new outfit, or even a new tie, but a goat? This is one of the things our family did this year. We decided to give a goat through World Vision. It’s an extremely modest gift really. $75 doesn’t compare to what we spend on ourselves.
I wrote a post about the Advent Conspiracy back in June or July. At the time I was seriously contemplating doing away with all expensive and material gifts at Christmas. In the end, we made lots of reductions and the decision to focus on others during Christmas, but we weren’t ready to go cold turkey yet.
It was really fun going through the World Vision catalog as a family and picking out a gift to give away through their program. I think this is a new family tradition in our home.
We also decided to start a new birthday tradition. Each of us gets to choose a World Vision gift for their birthday. We give a World Vision gift of their choosing, in their name, up to a certain amount. The birthday person then adds to that if they want to do something even bigger.
My daughter has a December birthday so she chose another goat but the one she chose includes an extra $25 that goes where it can have the most impact. For the extra donation she’ll get a stuffed goat that will remind her of the needs around the world every time she holds it.
My son has a birthday in January and he is busily working out his list to figure out his World Vision gift. It’s great to see the kids just as excited about these gifts as any material gift for themselves.
Remember whose birthday it is this week. Open your hearts and give to those that have little or none. Be a wise man, and lay your gifts at the feet of Jesus.
Matthew 2:11 (ESV)
11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Waiting for a message
December 18, 2008 by Tony
Filed under Adoption, View-All-Posts
Our family has been in the adoption process since about October. We already have four beautiful biological children but we wanted to share our family and our love with a child that otherwise would be without a family.







