My new nephew was just born

Welcome Gavin Andrew!

I am happy to say that my brother and his wife Amber just delivered (well, Amber did most of the delivering) Gavin Andrew Morrow.

Unfortunately, I received the news early this morning while my body was awake but my mind was sleeping in, so I do not remember all of the details. I believe Gavin was nearly 8lbs. and the delivery was relatively easy - only three pushes. I will have more details for you later.

December 31, 2007 has proven to be a bitter-sweet day. Shortly after this new child was given to our family, our grandmother was taken. Please pray for the peace and comfort of those touched by the life and death of Estelle Morrow and the continued health and blessing of Gavin Andrew.

For everything there is a season,

and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

(Ecc 3:1-2)

My Grandma just died

Estelle Morrow lived a long life amidst a loving family. Unfortunately, I was not in her midst nearly as much as I should have been. Yet I have always loved her and I will always cherish the time we did have together.

Honestly, I am not sure what to write. I am still processing everything. I suppose I just wanted to say goodbye.

Goodbye Grandma. I miss you. I promise I will spend more time with you in Eternity.

Happy Birthday Abigail!

Today my little girl is two years old. There were a few presents including plenty of books from Greena (my mom) and a brand new set of golf clubs - a pink back-pack stand bag complete with 3-wood, 7-iron and putter. Abby loves to putt and is not all that bad. I am looking forward to seeing her grip and rip her new clubs.There was also a cake which, while beautiful and thoroughly enjoyed by Par, Greena, Ali and I, did not impress Abby as much. She melted down a bit when we started to sing Happy Birthday (I didn’t think we sounded that bad) and kept her head buried in mom’s chest while we fattened up on frosting flowers.

Unfortunately, there was also the news that my grandmother and my father’s mother, Estelle, is about ready to go home - to Jesus. Death is never easy to deal with, and it shouldn’t be. But my prayer is that any difficulty is not the result of ‘woulda, coulda, shouldas’, but due to the fact that we will all miss a wonderful woman. The former tendency is negative, and places the focus on us, and what we think we should have done differently, etc. The latter is positive and is part of healthy celebration of a life lived. Of course, I have to stop myself from dwelling on the things I should have done differently too. Suffice it to say that there are plenty of them, but instead of airing them out here, I will keep the focus on Grandma Estelle and simply say, I have always loved you and I will miss you.

So please pray for Estelle, her family and her friends during these last few difficult days. Particularly for Estelle as well as my father Gary and his brothers Kenneth and Harold.

Finally, stay tuned. My brother, Andrew and his wife Amber are getting ready to deliver Gavin Andrew. He is due on January 8th, but it looks like he may get here any day now. Pray for a safe delivery and a healthy mom and baby. I will keep you posted.

The Weary World Rejoices

The Christmas Story
Luke 2.1-14

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

 

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born

Aloha

“Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot the Ka’anapali Ali’i in Maui.”

 

–The View from our Condo–

We’re home – physically, at least. Mentally, I am not so sure.

I have been on a fair number of vacations, and each time I have always been happy to get home. You know how it is. No matter how wonderful a time you’re having, you begin to feel the lure of your own bed. It has never failed – until now.

For the first time ever, the final days of my vacation brought with it a kind of depression. I simply did not want to leave. If you were to ask me what I wanted to stay around for, what it was I wanted to do before we left, I would not have been able to give you much of an answer. Frankly, despite all the incredible things to do in Maui (things which I still hope to do one day), perhaps what I enjoyed most was simply doing nothing. Well, not exactly nothing.

O Holy Night

Though I seldom choose favorites, I can say without hesitation that “O Holy Night” is my favorite Christmas song. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it is arguably one of the finest, most beautiful, powerful and significant songs ever composed in any genre. I know that is quite a statement, but as far as I am concerned, it’s true.

Since the late 1980’s I have listened to every rendition of “O Holy Night” that I could find. I have come across many excellent performances (too many to list here), but the standard was set when I heard Sandi Patty sing this David Clydesdale arrangement. The orchestration is superb and Sandi was in her prime.

A Little History

In 1847 in France, Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure, a seller of wines by trade, was asked by a parish priest to compose a Christmas poem. He obliged and began contemplating what he might write. Finding inspiration in the gospel of Luke, and imagining what it might have been like to have witnessed the birth of the Lord, Cappeau penned “Cantique de Noel.”

Cappeau decided that the poem should be set to music. Not being musically inclined himself, he sought the help of his friend, Adolphe Charles Adams, who was an accomplished classical musician. Interestingly, Adams was also Jewish. Regardless of the fact that Adams neither recognized Jesus as God nor celebrated his birth, he composed the music that we know today and that has been cherished for generations.

I will leave you to discover the rest of the story behind this beautiful old Christmas carol, which touches on socialism, intolerance, abolition, a heartwarming Legend from the Franco-Prussian war, and the Christmas story told in the first “airwaves” broadcast in history which concluded with “O Holy Night” played on the violin.

I encourage you to dig a little deeper into some of your favorite Christmas carols and Christian hymns. It’s an excellent spiritual growth exercise. I’m sure you will be touched, encouraged and inspired. I know that when I hear this song, and particularly this performance, my eyes well-up and I cannot help but feel compelled to “fall on my knees” and meditate on what it meant for Christ to be born.

Got Scripture?

Over the last few months I have been spending a considerable amount of time contemplating Scripture. I am not here referring to the reading of any particular book of the Bible or to the study of any particular doctrine. I am specifically referring to time spent simply pondering and reflecting on what it means to have a Bible and what it represents.

While the exercise is not new, I find that each time I come at the topic I learn something new. I come away feeling enlightened, edified, encouraged and, most often, awestruck. In fact, if you have never found yourself in absolute awe that God, the Lord of the Universe, has spoken your language and provided you with a record of redemption accomplished and victory won, I hope you will pursue your own study of Scripture soon.

There are any numbers of ways to go about such a study, but a few things are foundational. First, you need to devote at least a portion of time each day to reading God’s Word. It can be for five minutes or it can be for an hour. Whatever you are able to do. I am not referring to a “daily devotional” time here, though that will accomplish the same goal. What is most important in this case is demonstrating a commitment, respect and even reverence for Scripture by “showing up” everyday. It also doesn’t matter what you read. Feel free to simply go through the gospels or one of Paul’s letters. Better yet, dig into some of those Old Testament books that people never seem to get around to. Whatever you choose, just do it, and do it every day.

Second, and not surprisingly, pray. Pray before you read, while you read and after you read. Talk to God, and occasionally stop to listen to Him. Let God know that you want to grow in your understanding of His Word, both its content and its transmission. As you do this, you may never look at the Bible in the same way again.

Next, find a few good books on the subject. A relatively simple one might be Scripture Alone by James White. This is a popular (and short) treatment of the inspiration, canonicity and character of Scripture. It should serve as a good introduction to the topic while sparking a little of that awe I was talking about earlier. It may be more challenging for some than for others, but it should be inspiring for all. You will likely find yourself dealing with some unfamiliar topics and that is a good thing. Never cease challenging yourself at least a little. That is how you grow.

Of course, there are plenty of other books you could check out. Ask your pastor or someone you trust that is experienced in these things for some suggestions. Also, check out the references and referrals found in Scripture Alone if you want to dig deeper. Whatever you read, however, do not let it become a substitute for Scripture.

While there is much more that could be said, I will leave you with this: 2 Timothy 3.16 says that “all Scripture is inspired by God….” The word here translated ‘inspired’ is theoneustos and comes from Theos meaning “God” and pneō meaning “to breathe or to breathe out.” One might more accurately translate the passage as, “all Scripture is God-breathed….” You might begin your study by contemplating what it means that Scripture is God-breathed and go from there. Then think about the fact that it says all Scripture and consider what that means (does it really mean every word?).

Enjoy the ride!