The month of December marks 7 months that I have been unemployed. For 3 of those months, I have not had any income, and as a former church employee, not eligible for unemployment insurance. As I contemplated all the wonderful blessings from God this Christmas season, I realized how fortunate I am, as a husband and father, to be just employed. For instance;
I could be a husband and father in a Somalian refugee camp trying to keep my wife and children alive. Trying to find enough food and clean water each day just to live until the next day. Nothing else would matter, including the "things" that we left behind in our hasty exodus.
I could be a father in Juarez, Mexico, terrified every time my teenage sons leave the house, knowing that the drug cartels are killing young men involved in drug trafficking. Sadly, many young men have lost their lives because of mistaken identity.
I could be a father in Southeast Asia, escorting my teenage daughter everywhere she has to go, scared to death that she might be kidnapped and sold into the heinous sex trafficking industry.
I could be a Christian husband and father, looking over my shoulder every time we attend ourchurch in Tehran, Iran. Many of our friends have been arrested and fathers have a way ofdisappearing and never being heard from again.
Instead, I live in the most prosperous country in the world. I do not have to fear when my children leave our house. We have yet to miss a meal. Even though our financial health has suffered a serious blow in the second half of 2011, we have been blessed abundantly by friends and relatives. God has been so good to us. Today, December 26th, we are celebrating Christmas with 20 relatives in Colorado Springs, CO. Most of my children and grandchildren are here, along with parents and brother and sister-in-laws. We've discovered that the "things" of Christmas are not so nearly as important at the "people". While I have always known the presence of God in this wonderful season of the year, this year, Immanuel truly has been God With Us.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
O Come, All Ye Faithful
The Christmas truce on Flanders Field in Belgium is a timeless testimony to the power of the birth of Christ. On the western front of World War 1, a brief, unofficial cessation of hostilities occurred between British and German forces. It began on Christmas Eve 1914, when German soldiers in their trenches began singing "Stille Nacht", (Silent Night). The British stopped firing and began singing English carols. Soon the troops were greeting each other across no-man's-land and exchanging small gifts. According to the written account of an unknown British soldier, the next morning, December 25, 1914, was foggy and very cold. Neither side began firing; the truce held. Some British troops went over to the German side to help bury a slain soldier and then returned for a Christmas worship service. "How we did sing, 'O Come, All Ye Faithful.'" he wrote his family. "I never expected to shake hands with Germans between the firing lines on Christmas Day, and I don't suppose you thought of us doing so. So after a fashion we've enjoyed our Christmas." The next day the war resumed.
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Essence of the Christmas Season
Here is a wonderful story, by Loren Young, that demonstrates the essence of Christmas.
One recent Christmas I was visiting my parents who live in a mining community in West Virginia. Times were bad. I noticed in front of me a young couple stopped near a lame man.
The husband, obviously a miner, and his wife were talking in whispers. As the young husband looked down at his wife, a smile slowly came over his face and he nodded. She pulled out an old black change purse. Then she walked slowly to the lame man and turned the purse upside down.
Coins rattled into the old man's cup. "I'm wishin' you a Merry Christmas," she whispered. Gratefully, the lame man reached out to shake her hand.
I watched them walk down the street. They were broke and would have to walk home. But I could tell by the bounce in their steps that it would not be a long walk. When they lightened their purse, they also lightened their hearts, and the joy that comes from giving had worked it ageless magic once again.
Let this Christmas season be renewing of the mind of Christ in our thinking, and a cleansing of our lives by His pure presence. Let His joy come to our weary world through us. Gerald Kennedy
One recent Christmas I was visiting my parents who live in a mining community in West Virginia. Times were bad. I noticed in front of me a young couple stopped near a lame man.
The husband, obviously a miner, and his wife were talking in whispers. As the young husband looked down at his wife, a smile slowly came over his face and he nodded. She pulled out an old black change purse. Then she walked slowly to the lame man and turned the purse upside down.
Coins rattled into the old man's cup. "I'm wishin' you a Merry Christmas," she whispered. Gratefully, the lame man reached out to shake her hand.
I watched them walk down the street. They were broke and would have to walk home. But I could tell by the bounce in their steps that it would not be a long walk. When they lightened their purse, they also lightened their hearts, and the joy that comes from giving had worked it ageless magic once again.
Let this Christmas season be renewing of the mind of Christ in our thinking, and a cleansing of our lives by His pure presence. Let His joy come to our weary world through us. Gerald Kennedy
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
One of my all time favorite Christmas carols is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. I have performed the carol many times as a piano solo, several choral arrangements, orchestra arrangements, and in the last couple of years, a wonderful arrangement for choir, cello, and piano. The cello part was played b Jonathan Gathman, one of the most creative and accomplished musicians I have ever had the privilege to perform with.
In medieval Europe, there were cathedral services each evening leading up to Christmas Eve. Each service would begin with an antiphon, a choral call to worship. There were seven "Great O Antiphons," beginning with the Latin word veni (come), followed by the Latin words for "O Wisdom," O Lord," "O Branch of Jesse," "O Key of David," "O Dayspring," "O King of Nations," and "O Emmanuel." It is believed that O Come, O Come Emmanuel was written in the 12th century. These choral prayers were rooted in messianic titles used by the prophets in the Old Testament, pleas for God to come. In the 1800s, various English translations of the "Great O Antiphons" were made. This well-loved British version is the work of Thomas Alexander Lacey, who was born today, December 20, 1853.
O come, O come, Emmanuel! Redeem Thy captive Israel.
That into exile drear is gone, far from the face of God's Son.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to Thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Branch of Jesse! Draw the quarry from the lion's claw.
From the dread caverns of the grave, from nether hell, Thy people save.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to Thee, O Israel.
O come, O come Thou Dayspring bright! Pour on our souls thy healing light;
Dispel the long night's lingering gloom, and pierce the shadows of the tomb.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to Thee, O Israel.
In medieval Europe, there were cathedral services each evening leading up to Christmas Eve. Each service would begin with an antiphon, a choral call to worship. There were seven "Great O Antiphons," beginning with the Latin word veni (come), followed by the Latin words for "O Wisdom," O Lord," "O Branch of Jesse," "O Key of David," "O Dayspring," "O King of Nations," and "O Emmanuel." It is believed that O Come, O Come Emmanuel was written in the 12th century. These choral prayers were rooted in messianic titles used by the prophets in the Old Testament, pleas for God to come. In the 1800s, various English translations of the "Great O Antiphons" were made. This well-loved British version is the work of Thomas Alexander Lacey, who was born today, December 20, 1853.
O come, O come, Emmanuel! Redeem Thy captive Israel.
That into exile drear is gone, far from the face of God's Son.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to Thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Branch of Jesse! Draw the quarry from the lion's claw.
From the dread caverns of the grave, from nether hell, Thy people save.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to Thee, O Israel.
O come, O come Thou Dayspring bright! Pour on our souls thy healing light;
Dispel the long night's lingering gloom, and pierce the shadows of the tomb.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to Thee, O Israel.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
O Little Town of Bethlehem
When you look at printed music, the lyrics (words) are attributed to the author and the music (tune) is attributed to the composer. Sometimes both are written by the same person, but not always. When you look at the printed music for O Little Town of Bethlehem you see the tune is called "St. Louis." Here's the story.
In 1865, the famed Boston pastor, Phillips Brooks, visited the Holy Land and stopped at Bethlehem. He was so moved that he wrote the lyrics to this wonderful carol for the children in his Sunday School. He handed the words to his organist, Lewis Redner, and asked him to compose a melody. "If it's a good tune, I'll name it 'St. Lewis' after you." The completed song was an instant hit, and Brooks did name the tune for the organist, changing the spelling to "St. Louis" to avoid embarrassing him. Here are a couple of my favorite verses.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
In 1865, the famed Boston pastor, Phillips Brooks, visited the Holy Land and stopped at Bethlehem. He was so moved that he wrote the lyrics to this wonderful carol for the children in his Sunday School. He handed the words to his organist, Lewis Redner, and asked him to compose a melody. "If it's a good tune, I'll name it 'St. Lewis' after you." The completed song was an instant hit, and Brooks did name the tune for the organist, changing the spelling to "St. Louis" to avoid embarrassing him. Here are a couple of my favorite verses.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
There Is Nothing Better Than A Christmas Baby
34 years ago, today, our daughter Aimee was born at Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara, California. For a minister of music, the timing was very interesting. That week, we were in the final preparations for our annual Christmas concert, and the hospital was 2 hours driving time away from the city we were living in. It was this way because of insurance requirements. Our oldest son, Jason, was almost 2 years old, so that year we had a great Christmas with Jason, who understood what was going on, and Aimee, our brand new baby, that everyone wanted to hold.
Every year we had to really work at having Aimee's birthday on the calendar early enough so that the church music I was working on wouldn't overlap. Jason was an almost perfect baby. He hardly fussed, slept through the night starting his first week home, and was an easy baby and child to care for. Then came Aimee... One night when she was still pretty young she came into our bedroom. I was already in bed, reading Dr. Dobson's The Strong Willed Child. She asked me what I was reading and I told her, "Aimee, I'm reading a book about you." Then there was the time she and her mother were visiting Kathy's parents. Marjorie taught organ lessons in her home and was finishing up with a student. As the adult student started to leave, Kathy and Aimee came into the room and Kathy's mom introduced them. The student asked Aimee, "what do you call your Grandma?" to which Aimee replied "Grandma." Then the student asked her "what do you call your Grandpa", to which Aimee proudly replied "jerk." We're still not sure where that came from. What we did know early on was that Aimee had a mind of her own, and she would march to the beat of her drummer, not necessarily ours.
Today Aimee is an outstanding Children's Pastor in Albany, Oregon. This is the second church where she has made tremendous strides in the church's ministry to children. I think the single-mindedness that she displayed as a child has benefited her tremendously as she creatively designs ministry to children. I believe that somewhere down the road, Aimee will be a regional, if not national Children's Ministry leader. I think she will be a wonderful mentor and creative resource for children and children's leaders across our country. She is also a wonderful mother and wife.
As I stand back and watch from a distance, I am so thankful to God for this wonderful little dynamo that He trusted us with. Her mother and I are so proud of her. We can't wait to see all of the great things that God will help her and her husband accomplish.
Every year we had to really work at having Aimee's birthday on the calendar early enough so that the church music I was working on wouldn't overlap. Jason was an almost perfect baby. He hardly fussed, slept through the night starting his first week home, and was an easy baby and child to care for. Then came Aimee... One night when she was still pretty young she came into our bedroom. I was already in bed, reading Dr. Dobson's The Strong Willed Child. She asked me what I was reading and I told her, "Aimee, I'm reading a book about you." Then there was the time she and her mother were visiting Kathy's parents. Marjorie taught organ lessons in her home and was finishing up with a student. As the adult student started to leave, Kathy and Aimee came into the room and Kathy's mom introduced them. The student asked Aimee, "what do you call your Grandma?" to which Aimee replied "Grandma." Then the student asked her "what do you call your Grandpa", to which Aimee proudly replied "jerk." We're still not sure where that came from. What we did know early on was that Aimee had a mind of her own, and she would march to the beat of her drummer, not necessarily ours.
Today Aimee is an outstanding Children's Pastor in Albany, Oregon. This is the second church where she has made tremendous strides in the church's ministry to children. I think the single-mindedness that she displayed as a child has benefited her tremendously as she creatively designs ministry to children. I believe that somewhere down the road, Aimee will be a regional, if not national Children's Ministry leader. I think she will be a wonderful mentor and creative resource for children and children's leaders across our country. She is also a wonderful mother and wife.
As I stand back and watch from a distance, I am so thankful to God for this wonderful little dynamo that He trusted us with. Her mother and I are so proud of her. We can't wait to see all of the great things that God will help her and her husband accomplish.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Is Christmas Celebrated in Heaven?
I have started watching some of my favorite Christmas movies. On of them is the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol staring Alistair Sims. One of my favorite scenes is where Bob Cratchit asks for Christmas Day off, and after Scrooge scolds him for taking off this one day of the year, Bob's face lights up as he puts on his scarf and coat. The joy of anticipation shows all over his countenance. I know how Bob Cratchit felt, because I love Christmas as well. Another recent movie that is becoming a favorite is The Nativity. I love seeing the story acted out on the screen. Every year I read the story from the gospels, but there is something special about seeing each scene unfold. On Friday evening I attended a presentation at St. John Lutheran Church titled The Legend of the Christmas Angels. Part of the story explored the idea of how the angels interact with humans during Christmas.
All of this got me thinking about Christmas in Heaven. I wonder if each year a grand pageant is presented for all the heavenly residents? I have directed many Christmas presentations over the years. Many of them have included a nativity scene. The success of each presentation depended somewhat on the budget for costumes and sets, and the actors that were available, lighting and sound, music and all the elements that go into a Christmas pageant. There would be one huge advantage to the presentation of a Christmas pageant in Heaven. They have the original cast! No one has to wonder about what the costumes looked like, the script is exactly right, and there is no question about "did the angels say or sing?" The lighting would be perfect and the audio crew wouldn't miss a single cue. Can you imagine the power of the presentation as this wonderful story is enacted by all the people who were there more than 2,000 years ago? I wonder if everyone kids the innkeeper about not trying harder to find a room for Mary and Joseph? I believe the angel host that announced Jesus' coming to the shepherds numbered in the thousands on that wonderful night. I wonder if when they reenact the story in Heaven, they give other angels who might not have been there, the opportunity to shout "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
I hope they really do present The Nativity every year. And...if they do, that will be one of the highlights for my first Christmas in Heaven. I love this story, and what an incredible thing to see it re-enacted by the original cast. Merry Christmas.
All of this got me thinking about Christmas in Heaven. I wonder if each year a grand pageant is presented for all the heavenly residents? I have directed many Christmas presentations over the years. Many of them have included a nativity scene. The success of each presentation depended somewhat on the budget for costumes and sets, and the actors that were available, lighting and sound, music and all the elements that go into a Christmas pageant. There would be one huge advantage to the presentation of a Christmas pageant in Heaven. They have the original cast! No one has to wonder about what the costumes looked like, the script is exactly right, and there is no question about "did the angels say or sing?" The lighting would be perfect and the audio crew wouldn't miss a single cue. Can you imagine the power of the presentation as this wonderful story is enacted by all the people who were there more than 2,000 years ago? I wonder if everyone kids the innkeeper about not trying harder to find a room for Mary and Joseph? I believe the angel host that announced Jesus' coming to the shepherds numbered in the thousands on that wonderful night. I wonder if when they reenact the story in Heaven, they give other angels who might not have been there, the opportunity to shout "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
I hope they really do present The Nativity every year. And...if they do, that will be one of the highlights for my first Christmas in Heaven. I love this story, and what an incredible thing to see it re-enacted by the original cast. Merry Christmas.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Let Christmas Begin
This is going to be a very different Christmas for the Salazar family. For the first time in 36 years, we are not part of a church staff during the Christmas season. For the past nine years we have enjoyed 3 church Christmas parties. First with the Deacons, Elders and Pastoral Staff, our entire church staff and then we hosted our Music Department at our house for a grand get together. It is very interesting to not have a church family, especially at Christmas. We have been attending a wonderful Lutheran church near us, but it is not our church family yet.
Christmas will still be a great celebration in our home. As of today, our house lights are up, our outside decorations are out, our live tree is decorated and lit, and most of our inside decorations are up. Tonight we decorated our tree, drank hot chocolate, enjoyed a fire in the fireplace and listened to wonderful Christmas music. Let Christmas begin...
We also had another heartwarming experience tonight. Earlier today we pulled out a lot of decorations that we have not used in this house because it is smaller than other houses we have lived in. They are all very nice and we hated to see them stay in boxes. So, I put an ad in the "free" section of Craigslist and took pictures of all the things we wanted to give away. I mentioned in the ad that we particularly wanted to give these decorations, serving dishes, serving platters, and lights to a family or person that couldn't afford to decorate for Christmas. Within 30 minutes of posting the ad I had 6 responses. The first one was from a family that has a very ill mother living with them. The husband has been laid off for several months and they could not afford Christmas presents this year. The only thing they wanted to do was put out some decorations for their mother, thinking that this might be the last Christmas she is alive. The husband came over this evening to pick up all the items. He was blown away with all the nice things they received. I think they thought it might be junk. Shawn helped him load up all the boxes and then Kathy went out to his car and gave him a Schnucks grocery store gift card that had been given to us. This burly, hard-on-the-outside father choked up as Kathy gave him the card. We both saw that he was trying to stay composed, since he didn't know us, but if he had looked in our eyes, he would have seen the same emotion he was experiencing. All in all, it was a pretty good evening. Let Christmas begin...
Christmas will still be a great celebration in our home. As of today, our house lights are up, our outside decorations are out, our live tree is decorated and lit, and most of our inside decorations are up. Tonight we decorated our tree, drank hot chocolate, enjoyed a fire in the fireplace and listened to wonderful Christmas music. Let Christmas begin...
We also had another heartwarming experience tonight. Earlier today we pulled out a lot of decorations that we have not used in this house because it is smaller than other houses we have lived in. They are all very nice and we hated to see them stay in boxes. So, I put an ad in the "free" section of Craigslist and took pictures of all the things we wanted to give away. I mentioned in the ad that we particularly wanted to give these decorations, serving dishes, serving platters, and lights to a family or person that couldn't afford to decorate for Christmas. Within 30 minutes of posting the ad I had 6 responses. The first one was from a family that has a very ill mother living with them. The husband has been laid off for several months and they could not afford Christmas presents this year. The only thing they wanted to do was put out some decorations for their mother, thinking that this might be the last Christmas she is alive. The husband came over this evening to pick up all the items. He was blown away with all the nice things they received. I think they thought it might be junk. Shawn helped him load up all the boxes and then Kathy went out to his car and gave him a Schnucks grocery store gift card that had been given to us. This burly, hard-on-the-outside father choked up as Kathy gave him the card. We both saw that he was trying to stay composed, since he didn't know us, but if he had looked in our eyes, he would have seen the same emotion he was experiencing. All in all, it was a pretty good evening. Let Christmas begin...
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