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This is what Santa really wants: A Bacon and Cheese Roll

It’s hard to believe that this picture was taken 10 years ago:

For his Birthday party, Brandon’s having some buddies over to spend the night. Seems just like old times.

…Brian’s Christmas Countdown has come to a screeching halt.

I apologize, but work has absolutely overwhelmed me for the past week. I’ll try to do a special catch-up version sometime tomorrow, between Church, putting out Christmas lights, and my reading group meeting (Hey, we’re on the last chapter!!).

In the meantime, though, here’s something I recently discovered. It’s an arrangement of Pachelbel’s Canon, performed by the Trans Siberian Orchestra with a Christmas twist:

Where the Oracle magic happens:

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Thanks, Kevin, for pointing out that Google has added Street Views for the Birmingham area.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the one’s I use to know
Where the tree top’s glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your day’s be merry and bright
And may all your Christmas’s be white

I’ve lived in the South all of my life.

I have never seen a White Christmas.

Maybe it’s for that reason, a white Christmas seems magical to me. I’m sure that for those of you in the great white North, a white Christmas may be a nuisance that you have to deal with in travelling.

Hope springs eternal, though. May we all live to experience one.

Yes, you probably sang this song as a child. And you probably know all of the words. But that’s not why I like it.

My favorite version is a simple instrumental version, played on a tuba. I’m sure you’ve heard it too. It’s the background music during a certain scene in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I’m not going to display the video here, but I’m sure you can find it online. It’s a certain scene where a certain part of Cousin Eddie’s RV is full.

Every year, I get together with a group of guys from my Sunday School class, and we watch Christmas Vacation together. It’s one of the highlights of my social calendar in December.

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

I like this carol because, like some others, it draws attention to the heavenly host that appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of the Christ child. Let me take a theological diversion here. This is Brian talking, so take it with a grain of salt.

Christ, as part of the trinity, has been worshiped for time immortal by angelic beings. When Christ was in-utero, I don’t believe that he experienced that same time of worship. He may have, but that’s beyond my thinking as to how. Anyways, I’ve wondered if the angelic choir appeared at the exact moment of Christ’s birth. I’ve pictured that moment of the angels appearing in the sky containing 9 months worth of pent-up angelic praise bursting forth in one moment of unbeatable glory. The fact that such a pinnacle was witnessed by unworthy, uneducated, filthy shepherds underscores the great miracle of salvation extended unto us by a holy God.

Now, that’s something to sing about.

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.

O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light

Kings… “Wise Men”… Magi… Astronomers… Astrologists… Who knows, exactly, what they were, and how many they were. Scripture only indicates that they sought out the King - the Child - whose very birth was proclaimed throughout the heavens by a wonder whose origins are still debated today.

And for what it’s worth, if you’re in the Birmingham area, the planetarium Samford University will be hosting a presentation about the “Star of Bethlehem” on December 15th, 17th, 18th & 19th at 7pm. I was privileged to attend this a couple of years ago with the Cub Scouts. Great presentation!