My Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

These are our kids in a great moment, with no homework, no conflicts, no illnesses, no crisis, no special activities, having fun. We spent a week in Orlando where this photo was taken. I'm not going to say too much about them. Whatever I told you about them last year, they're somewhat the same, just add a year. Add a drivers license, an almost drivers permit, remove one set of braces, thinking about two more sets of braces; district chorus, soccer, basketball, field hockey, ballet - all on our list of activities for the year. Add another 400 hours of spare time on Fridays and Saturdays from February through July, some new colored siding, some air nailers, scaffold and sweat, and we have a like new looking house!

Thank God we've all been healthy and blessed one more year, and I didn't fall off the scaffold. We wish the same for you and your family.

We're looking forward to celebrating Christmas. One of my favorite moments is Christmas Eve, first at First Baptist Church, Charlottesville for the Christmas Eve worship service; then spending the evening with family; and Christmas day at home.

May God Bless you this Christmas, and I wish you a Happy New Year!

Miracle on Mainstreet - Kids Musical

We were truly blessed last night to witness the children praising God in this celebration of Christmas musical. The singing and drama were fantastic! I enjoyed hearing my daughter tell the story of Christmas, the account from the Gospel of Luke. I could hear the angels again saying to go to Bethlehem and see the Christ child, in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloths!

The Nutcracker Ballet

These girls are amazing, dancing on pointe through many of the songs of the ballet. I can't imagine trying to even stand like this, and they are dancing, and jumping, and twirling. This was the probably our 10th or 11th year to celebrate Christmas with another performance of the Nutcracker Ballet.

Congratulations to Mrs. Patrica Dodd for her continued committment to the arts in our community. I enjoy working and conversing with Mr. Bill Dodd on this annual holiday event.

Nutcracker Ballet - Saturday Night at 6PM

The Chesterfield School of Ballet presents:

The Nutcracker Ballet

Saturday Night at 6PM

at the Prince George County High School

tickets are about 6 to 8 dollars

all with young children should plan to attend.

also the old with sentimental hearts who enjoy Christmas parties!

Glory to God in the Highest!

And ... peace ... at Thomas Dale ... and good will towards men. It was an awesome ending to a great concert tonight. The combined choruses and orchestra were together, and a full audience was standing for the closing song. I'm thankful that Handel wrote this music centuries ago, so that now it's traditional and can be sung in a public school, without fear of the ACLU lawsuits. The message is a clear as the day it was written, "Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah!"

Thank you to Mr. Johnston, Ms. Harmon, and Ms. Stanfield for their conducting of the students in tonight's beautiful concert!

A Precious Diamond Willow

This was a special gift from a friend, which brought me back 30 years to the memory of my grandpa. We share the same initials, JH. One day I remember that a friend of my grandpa's was exploring through his pasture along the Tolna Coulee by his farm, searching for diamond willow. Later the friend returned with a finished diamond willow cane as a gift. The diamond willow is a unique wood, lightweight and strong, and perfect for making walking sticks and canes. The diamond willow is found in the colder climates of the northern US, Canada and Alaska. The branches of the willow form an indention of the bark, and when cut and finished for canes, forms the characteristic 'diamond' shape.


I'm looking forward to another winter camping and hiking trip to the George Washington National Park, along the Appalatian Trail in late January or early February. I'll be bringing my new diamond willow hiking stick, and I'm sure that in a quiet moment along the trail, the stick will remind me of my grandpa, and the family who've gone on before me. I've had moments like this before, and I'm proud to say that I've shed a few tears, remembering those good times, now past. It helps me to keep on, knowing that God will give through me to the memory of those who come after me.

A New Beginning

How appropriate it was for our pastor to speak from John 3:16 on this day of a new beginning in our church worship center. The message that Jesus said to Nicodemus in Chapter 3 of John is that he needed a new beginning. All that he had done in life was not sufficiently religious enough to please God. The Creater/Redeemer God of the universe said that he needed a rebirth. The human heart is far from God, and God has given us His Son to show us the new way.

We sure enjoyed experiencing the new space to worship. Our pastor reminded us that this building is just a box; and, although a big one and nicely furnished, it doesn't compare to the place of worship that God has placed in our hearts, where He really desires to be worshipped! The new box was almost full, with 951 people. That's still a small chuch in comparison to the 70,000 plus who gather Sunday afternoons in several cities across our land. We have room for growth!

Nativity for Biblical Beauties

I enjoyed coming home yesterday to a house full of teenage girls, making these nativity sceens from chocolates and graham crackers. Kay has been hosting a group of girls from Erin's 8th grade class and this was their special activity for the month. I'm amazed that even simple goodies can be transformed into a celebration of the birth of our Saviour.

Choir Location

This was us last week.

This is us tonight.

What a difference one week makes!

Disney - Extra Magic and FastPass

We started at the Magic Kingdom, riding the Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain and laughing at Monster's Inc.
The second day we went to Epcot and rode Soarin', the Auto Test Track, and Mission to Mars. Our favorite was probably Soarin', but almost became ill on the Mars Mission.
The third day, and we were on to MGM Studios, probably our favorite of the four. The girls went around and around on the Rockin' Roller Coaster, and up and down on the Tower of Terror. Also fun was the Great American Movie Ride.
The fourth day, and we were back to the Magic Kingdom and added rides on the Pirates of the Carribean, and even though I thought we could skip it, It's a Small World. We also rode the ride to Never, Never Land, and a ride on the cars.
The last day we started at Animal Kingdom, minus two teenagers who had to sleep in late, but they caught up with us midway at the Animal Kingdom. There we road the Kilamonjaro Safari to see some of the park animals and took some good photos. We took in a noontime show of the Lion King, and watch the girls ride the Expedition to Everest roller coaster. We closed out the last day back at MGM for dinner at Mama Melrose, and watched the parade of the High School Musical. The girls went back to the Rockin' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror, and we chilled out at the tribute to the Chronicles of Narnia.
Our best meals of the week were at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridan to have dinner with Cinderella and the Prince. The step's also showed up to say hello. At Epcot, we ate at the Coral Reef, which was probably our best food stop of the trip. At Magic Kingdom, the Liberty Tavern was a great stop to greet Goofy, Pluto, Chip, and Minnie Mouse. I can't remember the exact name of the drive-in theater at the MGM, but it was an experience watching the terrible old movies out of the 50's and 60's. The meal at Mama Melrose at MGM was definately better.
We had a good stay at Port Orleans, Riverside in adjoining rooms. We rode the boat once back from our shopping experience at Downtown Disney. Otherwise, we rode the shuttle buses to each location.

Transforming the Worship Center

Sunday afternoon, we set up chairs in our new worship center! Some key individuals can be seen in multiple photos giving great directions. The names Paul and Karen quickly come to mind. We now have sending capacity for up to 800 people. I like how our pastor describes this, not as seating capacity for us to sit down and simply fill up space; but as sending capacity for us to be filled up with the Lord, and go, to tell others.

I had a high vantage point from which to snap these photos, having set up scaffolding 20' high at the front of the worship center to place the video screen. It's pretty cool, one button sends the screen down, and a second button sends it back up. There are up and down limit switches to prevent the screen from going too far in either directions.

We filled God's House with His Word, now we need to see that His House is filled with His Spirit, and of the glory of the knowledge of the Lord.

Monday Night Football

It was a great game in Baltimore. The Ravens lead almost all but the last minute of the game ... And that's the minute that counts in the record books! Brady and New England, have not lost a game all year. This would have been their first... except for a couple of 4th down conversions by the Patriots. The Ravens defense could not hold out until the end even though they'd played a great game. The loudest roar from the 70,000 in the stadium was when the defense sacked Brady twice in a row.

This had been my first NFL football game to attend since September 1984 when I went with my dad to see the Vikings in the Metrodome. We wished we would have left that game after the first quarter, because the Vikings were crushed by the San Diego Chargers, something like 44 to 3. Bud Grant was coaching then again, the year after his retirement.
If I follow my current schedule of attending NFL games, I should be returning by the time I turn 70!

Last night, the game was exciting until the deal was sealed with a penalty for defensive pass interference in the endzone by the Ravens. The Patriots definitely took the prize, and may be headed back to the Super Bowl, and the way they looked, ... undefeated.

OK, I have to put this self photo up to show that I was there. My wife actually likes this photo of me. She must see something that I don't!!!

Filling God's House

I like the story that Pastor Joel from First Baptist Church in Charlottesville told one Christmas Eve, about a child who wanted to fill the church for Christmas. The child first demonstrated how it could be done, by lighting a candle in the middle of the sanctuary. The light from that one candle could be seen throughout every darkened corner.

I was excited by two things this week. First, we joined in with many attenders of our church at Ironbridge Baptist, to fill our new worship center with God's word. This began on Wednesday evening at 7Pm and is nearly complete now as I write this at 8AM Sunday morning. As I entered the worship center from the far corner, I could hear the voice of the reader of the chapter and verse that were before me. Immediately I was reminded of the story from Pastor Joel, and now added to the story, that the spoken Word of God can fill the recesses of even the largest room.

The second thing I was encouraged by was to rehearse with my youngest daughter, the songs the children will be singing in their Christmas program on December 16th. The song, "Take Your Candle, Go Light Your World," is the highlighted song towards the end of the musical. I love this song. I can't wait to hear it song by the children in this new sanctuary.

There is a candle in every soul,

Some brightly burning, some dark and cold,

There is a Spirit who brings fire,

Ignites a candle and makes His home.

Carry your candle, run to the darkness,

Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn,

Hold out your candle for all to see it,

Take your candle, and go light your world,

Take your candle, and go light your world.

Words by Kathy Troccoli.

I know what we really want to do, is fill God's house with His Word,

and with the light of His Spirit that He places within us,

and with the souls of our relatives, friends, neighbors and coworkers.