Most every year we take the kids out to view Christmas decorations. One stop we always make is to see a house that "goes all out" every year. Each year it seems the homeowner adds something different to the collection. They also have a snow machine that makes snow along the front of the yard.
On Saturday night we held our annual Gingerbread House competition. This has been a tradition for four or five years now, and the creations are quite interesting. The rivalry can become quite intense as one designer looks to intimidate the other. It is hilarious! You can see for yourself. Their is video added for fun!
For the first time in some time we decorated for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. It is still so much fun watching TJ and Ellie get out the decorations and place them on the tree at just the right place.
Today is TJ's birthday. He is nine years old. What a special little boy who is slowly...or should I say rapidly, growing up. He is very dear to his family.
On Memorial Day, TJ and I spent part of the day at the Capitol Building in Raleigh. Every year their is a celebration and recognition of those who have paid the "ultimate sacrifice" on behalf of our nation. I am always humbled by the veterans we see each year. They are true heroes!
Today is Mothers Day. My children just happen to have the greatest Mother in the world. I am so proud of her and humbled by the example she sets for me and our children. Our children are her life and she has invested her life in them. This is a picture of three of our five kids. Missing are Jennie and Katie who live out of town.
This evening I listened to a program online sponsored by CNN called, "Faith and Politics." One theme that is constant from all of the Presidential candidates is the continual confusion over what the gospel is. Not that they have ever been asked what the gospel is, but the prevailing definition of the gospel among the candidates is that of a "social" gospel which is no gospel at all. The gospel is not taking care of the poor and eliminating social injustice although that is how it is defined among the candidates. While feeding the poor and calling for social justice is admirable and should be desired it is not the gospel, but a result of a life changed and transformed by real gospel. Good works are a result of saving faith, not a prerequisite for saving faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). So, what is that gospel? 1 Corinthians 15 makes it abundantly clear what the gospel is:
15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, [1] of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
This clip from John Piper also helps us to understand what the real gospel is.
I have been waiting for some time for a response by Ken Jones to recent comments by Barack Obama's pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Ken Jones is a pastor and participant on one of my favorite radio programs, "The White Horse Inn." I appreciate his perspective on the controversial comments by Wright and how Jones relates them to scripture and the focus of the cross in preaching. Listen in at the link below... http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/
Today, our church family celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ together. Along with the children, we shared the Christmas story together from Luke 2 and sang Christmas carols. What wonderful friends these people are to my family and we appreciate them so very much! We always love sharing Christmas with them.
Today, Julie and the kids baked sugar cookies, peanut butter balls and other goodies for Christmas. It is a Christmas tradition for us and the kids enjoy it every year.
Today we spent the afternoon decorating for Christmas. We put up the tree and also decorated most of the house as we usually do each Christmas. TJ and Ellie had a ball playing with the ornaments before they placed them on the tree. We had a ball just watching their excitement. They make us all feel like kids again.
On Saturday, we held our annual Ginger Bread house competition. This has become great fun for the kids every year in preparation for Christmas. I must say that it has become more and more competitive each year too. **Click on picture for larger view**
