The Perfect Christmas

If you could hire a "Christmas designer" to design the perfect Christmas, what would it look like? White snow? Glowing friends and family filling a large room with love and laughter? A tasty, juicy ham injected with pineapple or coke? Loved ones praising you for picking the perfect gift? A black Lexus with a big red ribbon wrapped around it? What does your perfect Christmas look like?

Actually, there was only one perfect Christmas, and it took God (not a "Christmas designer" or "super-mom") to pull it off. And even still, the perfect Christmas wasn't so perfect by our standards. Actually the perfect Christmas sounds a lot more like a typical Christmas for busy moms and dads. Travel through not-so-perfect weather and a day refusing to go according to the ideal plan. Exhaustion, frustration, and messiness. And THIS was the perfect Christmas. And I don't know for sure, but I think Mary would have agreed. Why? Because she wasn't aiming for just the right present for Joseph. She wasn't aiming for the perfect meal or a spotlessly clean home. She wasn't aiming for anything but the presence of Jesus.

By those standards, maybe you've had a lot more close-to-perfect Christmases than you think. Sure the green bean casserole didn't turn out just like you planned; no, you didn't get that gift you were hoping for; and yes, you're absolutely worn out by all the busyness. But when all the excessive expectations are stripped away, and when squint your eyes and look beyond the dense forest of commercialism, you'll find that this Christmas, like every other Christmas is one more reminder of that one perfect Christmas celebrated by Mary, Joseph, and a few strangers so long ago. A day to remember that day in history when God humbly invaded our story.

So raise the bar for your expectations this Christmas. Snow, family, smiles, gifts, love, laughter, and good cooking may be a part of it too, but I hope that you're expecting more. I hope you're expecting an awareness God's presence and gifts like peace, love, and hope that He brings each year as you remember Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

Only for a Season

It's only for a season. That's what I told myself while I was in the midst of my third all-nighter in two weeks to finish another paper for school.

It's only for a season. That's what came to mind when I discovered my truck had been broken into again.

It's only for a season. That's what I reminded myself every time I sat at the traffic lights for ten minutes in front of Kohl's in Highland.


It's only for a season. That's what I thought when I had to turn down yet another invitation to hang out with the guys on campus at Moody.

It's only for a season. It's only for a season. It's only for a season. I kept reminding myself. I never let myself forget. It's only for a season.

The season I've been referring to for the last two years is coming to an abrupt end. And I'm terribly sad about it. The season I just couldn't wait to get through, the season I was just praying to survive, has turned out to be the best yet. As I look back at the last two years, I have so much to thank and praise God for.

The season of worshiping with what has become my family at Crossroads is coming to an end. Thank You God for placing these wonderful people in my life! Thank You especially for the leadership and wisdom Drew Brown has poured into my life. Thank You for the opportunity Kris Vos and Road Crew gave me to serve at Crossroads. Thank You for placing caring people like Joan Buss and Tiffany Nottingham in my path. Thank You for this season at Crossroads. I wish it didn't have to end.

The season of ministering to and with the awesome students of Brickhouse is coming to an end. Thank You God for showing me what it means to simply love You and love students. Thank You for an endless list of great memories with students. Thank You for allowing me to watch you change students' lives. Thank You for allowing me to see such an amazing team of volunteer adult leaders who give their time, talents, and energy every week in Your name. Thank You for the Fight Club guys, for the fun we had and the challenges we overcame. Thank You for showing me You can use a quiet, thoughtful, and just-plain-weird guy like myself. Thank You for this season at Brickhouse. I wish it didn't have to end.

The season of studying at Moody Bible Institute is coming to an end. Thank You God for teaching me more about You! Thank You for allowing me to explore my gifts in ministry, especially writing and counseling. Thank You for placing Mitch Tabla in my path at orientation and for the friendship we developed over two years. Thank You for bringing Matt Seaver into my life... chainsaw, beard, and all! Thank You for Ian Stewart and the time we were able to spend getting to know each other and praying for each other this past semester. Thank You for exposing me to great professors like Dr. Finkbeiner and Mrs. Smith, who humbly and lovingly teach with excellence. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me in real, tangible ways every day as You coordinated my studies with my experiences.

It was only for a season. Praise GOD for this season of my life!

Moody, Crossroads, and Brickhouse, you made this a season I'll never forget!