Interactive Sermon

Happy Holidays!

Turkey Day Finale.  We're looking forward to Christmas Dinner.

First Glance

We begin the Advent Season tomorrow morning as we gather to worship.  Jesse and members of the World Famous Christ's Church Worship Band have a great set of Christmas favorites ready to sing.  You'll want to arrive ready to lend your voice to the choruses of Christmas cheer.

If you're interested in an advance look at the texts we will consider, give Genesis 3:15 a read, and then the story of Christ's birth in Luke chapter 2.

I look forward to gathering to worship with you tomorrow!  Let me be among the first to wish you a Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving pt. 3

Darin's Secret to Tender & Juicy Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving pt. 2

Darin's Secret Recipe

Happy Thanksgiving pt. 1

Shaw Family Thanksgiving

The Turkey Experience

'Tis true, my friends.  I'll be up early tomorrow morning dancing with not one, but two, Thanksgiving turkeys.  Precious, our 20 pounder, will be taking to the table in the traditional roast turkey fashion, garnished with all the trimmings... and quite possibly bikini tan lines.  Luscious, our 14 pounder, will be lathered up in my special Cajun recipe before taking a very brief dip in 350 degree oil, readied to hit the table in Cajun style.  I'll be taking the rest of this afternoon and evening to prepare my kitchen (and the driveway) for a most memorable occasion tomorrow.  We'll be blogging about it - so stop by when the tryptophan sets in at your house.  Feeling festive.  I've penned this ditty to the melody of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

I'm making a list and checking it twice;

Fillin' my syringe with a bounty of spice;

Darin's Cajun Fried Turkey is here.

Clear your sinuses and bring water to your eyes;

Just the right touch to leave your palate satisfied;

Darin's Cajun Fried Turkey is here.

I've mixed up lots of flavors; to make your temperature rise;

I'll shoot each breast with a four ounce dose; two each for legs and thighs!

Oh, you better watch out; you'd better decide;

If you've got other plans or you can afford to stop by;

Darin's Cajun Fried Turkey is here.

You Didn't Run Fast Enough!

Posted this childhood memory on the NaBlo blog today.  Thought I'd post it here, too.  Enjoy.

Being the youngest of five children back in the days before video games, AOL, MySpace and Facebook meant that I was afterschool entertainment for my older siblings and their friends.

"Hey Darin! I learned a new magic trick. Want to see it?" You would think that my big brother Doug's words should have been warning enough, but youthful innocence prompted me to answer enthusiastically, "Sure!"

"Okay, lay down on the couch, close your eyes and count to ten." Again, that invite should have screamed 'danger', but, all too eager to see this work of wonder, I was instantly prostrate and counting out loud, "One... Two... Three..."

When I opened my eyes I saw my brother Doug's friends and my sister Diann. No Doug. He was gone! I jumped up and looked around the room. No sign of him. Vanished!

"Hey!" a voice came echoing from the distance. Suddenly, a knock on the wall behind the couch I had laid down upon. "I'm on the other side of the wall! I passed right through the wall! Isn't that amazing?"

Whoa! Doug's friends and my sister Diann giggled - overcome by joy at my brother's newfound magic powers, no doubt. I dreamed of the possibilities. No more need for doors. No more worries about locks. With powers like this, the world would be my poptart!

"Lay down and close your eyes again. I'll come back. Count out loud!" I dove back onto the couch and shouted out, "One... Two... Three..." When I got to ten, I opened my eyes and my brother Doug was kneeling in front of me.

I wasn't that gullible a kid. My brother had to show me two or three times before he asked, "Do you want me to teach you how to do it?"

The next thing I knew, Doug and his friends had slid the couch to one side - making a wide path for me to pass through - and I was staring that wall square in the plaster. "Listen, it's easy. You just run as fast as you can. Right before you get to the wall, close your eyes... and jump."

I tried. Nothing but a thud. Doug's friends and my sister Diann were laughing at me. "Don't worry about them", Doug tried to refocus me. "They'll be plenty jealous when you can pass through walls!" He was so right. Let's see how they laugh when I can come and go with ease. Jerks!

"It's okay. I know what you did wrong. You didn't run fast enough. We got to get you a little bit better of a head start. Then, sort of bend over a little bit - sort of like you're diving into the pool. Just dive through. That'll do! You ready?"

I was. I think I actually ran a couple laps around the living room to build up momentum. The jerks were still laughing. 'Yeah? We'll see!' I thought, as I approached break-neck speed.

"Go for it!" Doug yelled.

Thud. Double thud, actually. The wall. The floor. I vaguely remember the sound of pictures on the walls rattling. I remember some metallic sounds. Years later, my siblings told me that they heard it all too - pictures shifting and metal conduit rattling loose inside the framing of the walls. And laughter. More than giggling now. My audience was in danger of peeing themselves, they laughed so raucously.

One final sound recollection. A bellowing voice brought all the other noise to silence. My Dad's, "What the hell is going on in here?"

Dad probably saved my life that day. Doug and the jerks would have had me back on my feet for another try. Afterschool entertainment was hard to come by in those days.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Memoirs

What's On My Mind?

Your brain.  Your brain on blogs.

Platform ~ It's all about my writing, my potential, and the realities of publishing.  I've spent my day off learning about it.  I've got a headache.

Thanksgiving ~ It's a shame that it takes a holiday once a year for me to really slow down and take stock of all that I have for which I am thankful.  My faith - I continue to be amazed.  Shari, Amanda, Katie, Becky and Emily - in that regard, I am truly the most blessed man alive.  My mom and siblings, nephews and nieces - what a great family.  My church family and friends - such a privilege to share life's journey.  You, for stopping by my blog - it is truly my pleasure and I am thankful for you. 

And more Thanksgiving ~ Football.  Family.  Food.  Friends. Can't wait.

And still more Thanksgiving ~ Did I tell you that I am doing two turkeys again this year?  One oven roasted.  It's a tradition.  One Cajun-deep-fat-fried.  It's becoming a tradition.  I may just 'live blog' my turkey works this year.

Christmas Music ~ I've given in.  It's the soundtrack of my day already.  Mostly the oldies because they remind my of Christmas as a kid.  You know who I heard today?  Jim Nabors!  That's Gomer Pyle, dude!  Yes!  But my holiday tastes aren't all the old crooners.  I'm ordering up some Sufjan Stevens and Over The Rhine on the recommendation of my friend and blogger-extraordinaire Kim, to go along with my collection of Trans Siberian Orchestra.

What's on your mind?

First Glance

Tomorrow will be a special day for the congregation of Christ's Church.  First, a chance to gather and worship together at both 9AM and 11AM.  Then there is the opportunity to have Mike Knight lead us in song and share with us about the last year, when he was living and ministering alongside our partners and friends in Namibia.  If all of that is not enough, we have the privilege of celebrating our congregation's 23rd anniversary, with an all-church fellowship luncheon after the second service.

If you want an advance look at the Bible texts we'll be considering, take a look at Acts 2:42-47 and 1 Corinthians 12.

Mike has a great set of songs for us to sing together picked out - some great favorites and even a couple of Namibian praise songs are on the list. 

Whether the 9AM or 11AM service, I look forward to getting to worship with you tomorrow.  And, please, make plans to join us all for lunch!

Christmas Tunes

Two local FM stations have started early.  Both WROR 105.7 and Oldies 103.3 have switched over to round-the-clock Christmas music already.  It seems to me in years past they've waited until Thanksgiving to go Yule on us.  I am not sure how I feel about this.  I love the Christmas music (and I've already been enjoying it), but I also feel as though that after Thanksgiving is when the Christmas season should begin.  Am I slighting Thanksgiving?  Oh my!  But, I guess there's no such thing as Thanksgiving music.  There was that one tune.  How did it go?

Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go... something.  Moth balls... sleigh... what else, I can't remember.

How about Christmas music?  What do you think?  What are your favorites?  What do you hope to never hear again?  If someone was going to buy you a Christmas CD, which one would you want?

To seed the conversation, here are my answers:

Favorites: Any of the old crooners - Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, and so on.

Hope to never hear again: The stupid Barking Dogs Jingle Bells song; Feliz Navidad by Freddy Fender; The Grinch by anyone.

If someone were buying me a CD: Christmas Eve and Other Stories by Trans Siberian Orchestra (wore my copy out).

Chime in.  Let me hear from you.

 

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Christmas Music