Adore

I know it's not December yet, but I am talking about Christmas anyway. Because in the Duran household, Christmas starts when I say it does (which is usually October 1st... don't judge me...)
I have begun to work through my annual list of "must listen to Christmas albums". So far, so good. I've even added to it. The latest cd to serenade my eardrums is Chris Tomlin's Adore. Man... It's got some great songs!

The best of which is the title track.

A lot of Christmas songs have traditional verses with the artist writing a modern chorus. Adore is different in that it takes the chorus of an old hymn, changes the melody and adds in modern verses. It's not a flashy song with bells and soaring guitar solos. It's a reflection on the Christmas season... and a great song of worship.
Soothing is probably the best way I know to describe it.

Give it a listen. Hopefully you dig it as much as I have been!

A New Christ[mas]ian Movie

Some times my day starts with a lot of emails. Other times, I'm met with a bunch of things that need to be looked after ASAP. Others I'm greeted with the horrid feeling of realizing I left my lunch neatly packed by my door.

Today I was greeted with this.

My face melted into a cross between awe and wonder. Then to confusion. Was this some sort of awesome joke? Is that really Kirk Cameron exploding through a Christmas tree welding a candy cane and a manger?

Yes. It is.

Could this possibly be a real film and not some sort of twisted dream and/or parody?

It exists.

Is there a trailer for this sure to be wondrous film?

There is.




I honestly don't know what to think about any of this. Which is rare for me. Is the movie a documentary with a story? A drama? Over the top action?

It seems to have a bit of an irreverent tone too, which is also odd. Whether or not this makes it to the watch list has yet to be determined, however, I shall always cherish the memory of first seeing that poster.

What do you think? Watch? Pass?

Wrapping

It's one of my favorite parts of pre-Christmas prep. Throw some Christmas tunes on the radio (LIFE is non-stop Christmas now... just sayin...), grab some tape and pick out some nice paper. Then, get wrapping.

It's really too bad I'm terrible at it.

O.K, not terrible... just not great.

I used to be really bad. It was more of a ball of paper with a gift in it when I was a kid. Now it's a box with suspiciously rounded edges.

This year I discovered double sided wrapping paper. I'm not kidding! It's really a thing! I'm way more excited about this then I should be. I probably need a hobby...

Into The Silent Night

Every year there's one album that becomes that year's "Definitive Christmas Album." It's the one I listen too driving home from work, my go to for Christmas inspiration and the one that I wish I had written all the songs for.

In the past it's been Down Here's "How Many Kings" and Jars of Clay's "Christmas Songs". Not to mention Future of Forestry's "Advent Christmas Collection" (Which just seems to be a constant favourite with me).

This year, it's for King and Country's Into The Silent Night.

Love it.

In the past, I've had a lot of love to give these guys. They sure aren't giving me any reasons to stop yet either!

In fact the only thing I don't like about Into The Silent Night is the length. It's only 4 songs long (plus a live version of Baby Boy).

By the time the ep is over... it's just getting started! Where's the Christmas LP? Oh well. Whatever. At least we get 4 songs of awesome.

Baby Boy and Into The Silent Night are my favourites, but Angels We Have Heard On High is a great imagining and Little Drummer Boy is enjoyable (making Little Drummer Boy enjoyable isn't the easiest thing to do either!)

For me, well worth the 5 bucks!

Happy Christmas!

Christmas Time

Is one of my favourite times of the year. It's awesome! Bright, colourful and the music has it's on special charm to it too.

There's only one thing that bugs me about it. People discussing it.

Every year beginning in November, the conversation begins. Should we be celebrating? Isn't it pagan? Santa!

It's starting to fell like beating a dead horse. Most of the stuff that is worth saying has been said. The internet is loaded with articles about the subject... Can't we leave it at that? Maybe I'm just a fan boy...

For me the lights, trees, bells, green, red, songs, tinsel, holly, turkey and gifts aren't distractions. They're reminders.

Reminders of what we are getting ready for on the 25th of December. The celebration of the birth of Jesus, but that's not where it ends. He was born to die.
Think about that!
It's like a pre-Easter celebration. What happens in a peaceful manger culminates at Calvary and concludes with the resurrection. It's this awesome (and life changing) series of events that all begin... with Christmas.

At least, that's how I feel about it.

Happy Christmas!

Operation Christmas Child

I really love this ministry.

There are a lot of great causes out there to contribute too. More than I will ever likely be able to get around to. That being said, I can honestly say that OCC is the most fun to give to.

Going around from store to store, hunting deals on stuff you imagine someone else would like. Trying to get a theme together for the appropriate age. Figuring out if you would have liked this thing when you were 5. It's great!

It's also helping an important cause.

One thing we take for granted in North America is gift giving. Not excessive "look how much I got" just simple "hey, I got you something special." There are families all over the world that never have received anything. Ziltch. Hard to wrap my head around that one. Operation Christmas Child aims to fix that. Plus, they present the gospel at the same time! Bonus!

This year I'm challenging myself to pack a shoebox every month. Call it an early New Year's Resolution. That way when November 2014 hits next year, I'll have a nice big stack ready to go.

If you've never given to OCC before, maybe you want to take the challenge too. Or, just pack one come November. Either way, it's great to imagine the look(s) on the kids faces when they get their new -- insert gift here ---

Happy Christmas

It's that time of the year again. I love it.
Flashing lights, the smells of awesome coming from the kitchen and the sound of kids on sugar highs using really loud and annoying electric toys.
Can't beat Christmas.
Material fluffy traditions aside, it's important to reflect on what Christmas really is.
Jesus.
Babe, born in a manger. The saviour of the world in a barn. That's such a mind bending thought, isn't it?
One song that truly captures what Christmas is (for me at least) is Downhere's How Many Kings.
Listen to the lyrics... and have a Merry Christmas.

The Grinch

Monday night commemorated one of my family's few "normal" Christmas traditions. Watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Not the Jim Carey abomination blasphemy cash grab mess from a few years ago.
The Dr. Seuss classic.
I've always loved that cartoon. Not sure how much of it is sentiments and how much of it is genuine love of the show, either way, it's a great half hour special.
If you don't know the Grinch (tisk tisk), it's the story of a green guy that hates Christmas. Lights, sounds, smells... not a fan. So he takes all the gifts and food away (and pretty much everything else). Then, when Christmas morning rolls around, he's shocked to hear the residents of the alpine town of Whoville sing despite the lose of gifts. That causes him to realize the true meaning of Christmas is love and family (we know it means something else as well, but it doesn't go that far).
From the stellar rhymes of Seuss to the character arc of the Grinch. It's become a staple.

Last year I discovered that now defunct Christian band Queen's Club, did a cover of the song from The Grinch too! Score!

Enjoy.
  

Christmas Music

It seems every year Christmas comes earlier for me. This year, I've been singing Sleigh Ride since early October.
I'm not complaining, I just love Christmas.
I also tend to have "Christmas Theme Songs" every year.
Two years ago it was "O Come O Come Emmanuel"
Last year it was "War Is Over" (both of which are awesome songs)
This year it seems to be "Love Came Down At Christmas"

We seem to always focus on the fact that Jesus was born to die. Which is profound and all, but we often forget the motivation behind that. It was love.

As Francis Chan/Hawk Nelson would say, Crazy Love. That God would care enough about us, despite us spiting in his face, to send his son as a human to die. That is true love.

That's what I think every time this songs come across my mind.

Merry (early) Christmas

Christmas Banquet

It was tricky coming up with something interesting to do at my churches' Christmas Banquet this year. The last few years have been great, but not about the nativity. They've focused on giving, the reason for the season or (last year) a variety night, but no babe in a manger. This year however, the goal was to do The Christmas Story. That's harder then it sounds. Everything has been done. Church Christmas plays can get into the "cliche rut" so easily - we didn't want that to happen.
So instead of a musical or a play... we mixed 'em! A guy was pretending to be Luke writing his Gospel, every time he'd hit an important part in the story (Angels appearing to the shepherds) we'd get someone to do their version of a relevant carol (for the angel example it would be While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night). It worked!
A Buddy of mine and I kicked things off with "O Come O Come Emmanuel." Great song. I've always liked it, though I'm not sure why...

The night continued with "We Three Kings," "Away In A Manger" and an instrumental version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentle Men."
Between the lights, music and food (and of course the over aching message) I'm officially read for Christmas!

Group Therapy Thursday - December 8, 2011

Tonight on Group Therapy Thursday we were helping Joey. He works at a department store that will let him say "Season's Greetings" but saying "Merry Christmas" is a no go. What should he do?

New House of Heroes

I love House of Heroes. David Crowder Band is my favorite band, but they are calling it quits in January which leaves my "favorite band" spot open for the Air Raid 20 headliners. I got super excited on Tuesday when I found out that they had a new Christmas song coming out. Fast forward a few days, it's on YouTube.

While it's not exactly your most conventional "Christmas Song." I like.

It's a bit of a smack in the face actually.

We can get so wrapped up in stuff that we forget that Jesus came to challenge the conventions of the day. To get rid of the hypocrisy and bring in a faith that was real and tangible. One that we should be living every day of the year.

That's what I took from this song anyway. Your thoughts?

Group Therapy Thursday December 1, 2011

Tonight on Group Therapy Thursday we were helping out a newlywed couple who are having some trouble decorating for Christmas because of traditions.

What should they do?

This Christmas

Something strange has happened to me this year. Two things actually.

Firstly, I'm enjoying The Little Drummer Boy. I won't lie, I have always despised this song. This year though something has changed... I've actually been enjoying the song, turning it up when it comes on LIFE even!!! What's up with that?

The second thing is I don't want anything for Christmas.

As a young child (5 or 6 if you must know) my Mom had told me that "some day, I'll know that it is better to give than to receive". (This was her way of getting out of the question "What do you want for Christmas")? I thought she was crazy... there would always be an action figure, LEGO® set or toy car that I'd want... not so. In fact I'm looking forward to giving more than ever.

I don't really need anything, and everything that I want is ridiculously expensive (hobbies are pricey... ask a musician). The point of Christmas is Christ and I think I know that now. More than ever.

So the only item on my wish list this year is socks... and a CD with Little Drummer Boy on it!

The Best of 2010

Christmas time is here. It's everywhere you go. Tinsel, tin foil, Christmas cheer. I have officially finished Christmas shopping, but in the event you haven't, here are a few gift suggestions for the music lovers on your list.

House of Heroes - Suburba. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this record. The whole project is about growing up in Suburban America, the dreams that we have and the need for God in it all. Great Album. Plus you can hear God Save the Foolish Kings over and over and over and ove......

Jars of Clay - The Shelter. This wasn't my favorite cd of 2010 (see above) but it is still solid. It features a ton of artists. I counted them one day, but I forget how many there where... 17 cameos?

Group 1 Crew - Outta Space Love. This cd marked a major change for everyone's favorite hip-hop act from Florida. They went from a mixed bag of styles to a dance/urban/mo-town sound. A good listen.

Anberlin - Dark Is The Way Light Is The Place. O.K. I don't own this cd. But, in my defense I have listened to it. It is arguably my favorite Anberlin cd. Very melodic, yet they turn it up when appropriate.

Charmaine - Love Reality. Once again I don't own this record yet (**hint** **hint**), but it's really good. Charmaine is able to deliver a power pop/techno hybrid that is music to my ears (and most critic's ears).

David Crowder* Band - Church Music. O.K Church Music came out last year... but it is a really good album...

And these are my "pleasant surprises" for the year--

Rend Collective Experiment - Organic Family Hymnal. Who? Ya that is what I said. But after buying the cd, I became a fan. R.C.E. comes from Ireland, which becomes evedent in their music. David Crowder is even an honorary member!

Future of Forestry - Travel I, II & III. I had heard of Future of Forestry while watching one of their music videos in the Treasure House. Then I forgot about them. Then I got Travel I,II and III (a 3 ep collection). Wow was I impressed. They rock, that's all I can say. These eps are ambient and imaginative with some interesting twists.

There you have it, my favorite cds of the year. In no way am I saying that these are the best, they are however the best that I have heard. If there is a cd that you'd recommend, let me know!

Time for Christmas shopping

I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas shopping.

On the love side:

A. I get to think of creative gifts that the recipients will never guess

B. I get to give people stuff

C. I get to mindlessly wonder around stores and usually wind-up getting myself a Christmas present (don't judge me... you've done it to!!!)

On the dislike side:

A. I become trapped in a mall surrounded by thousands of people for hours on end with nothing but my instincts to survive the lights, smells and prices

B. Having to find interesting gifts by the 25th

C. Hiding the gifts from the recipients

I like to be done my shopping by December 1st, ya I know, unrealistic and early. The method behind the madness is simply this -- the sooner I get the shopping done, the sooner I can start to focus on the real reason for the season.

It also has something to do with the year I didn't start Christmas Shopping until the 20th of December... that was stressful.