Amongst the many that I have, one of my favorite childhood memories is going to my grandparents house for Christmas Eve. We knew there would be a lot of food. We knew there would be a lot of presents. We knew we got to hang out with the family. Specifically, we knew we would be able to be with Nana & Papa. We saw them all of the time, multiple times a week sometimes - but Christmas is obviously special.

I've been fortunate to have had many positive role models in my life. My grandfather is one of the best. A northwest Indiana iron-worker who loved his family as hard as he worked to provide for them. There wasn't anyone more fun to hang out with. We have pictures of him hunting and also original paintings he has done. His significance in my life and in who I am can't be explained, and he will always be one of my heroes. So obviously- Christmas is a special time to be with him.

Over the last 7-8 years my Papa - that's what I call him - has been suffering from small strokes. Each one is a scary ordeal in which we wonder if we'll have to say good-bye. He has fought through each one like the iron-worker he is - but the reality is that the strokes have had their toll, causing him to suffer from Alzheimer's. He now has to stay in bed most of the time and needs help with most everything.

To say this has been hard on our family would be an understatement. My Nana & him celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past November - so how can it not be hard.

He has always been one of the funniest people I know and any bit of sense of humor that I or anyone in my family has was inherited from him. He always joked with us. For example, the last time he was in the hospital a nurse came in and asked him if he was OK. His answer, "No, I'm Bob." Most every nurse who has cared for him would with an affectionate smile tell the family - "He is a very funny man."

A couple weeks ago my mom called me and told me about something he said or did, I honestly can't remember what it was. What I do remember was that it had to do with him being confused with something that happened. The way that he responded was apparently indeed funny, and my mom and Nana were laughing and joking with him about it. Relating the story to me my mom said, "You have to laugh about things - how could we handle it if we didn't."

And that's when I realized that for all my life Papa has been preparing all of us for how to cope with what he is dealing with. He taught us to laugh.

Not to laugh at him or at what he's going through, but to be able to find some sense of joy in the midst of the trial. He's still Papa - and we can still laugh with him.

This past Christmas we all gathered around his bed downstairs to take a picture with him. It was the culmination of a great Christmas Eve day.

A day in which I was able to hold his hand while we talked some and joked some.

A day when we got him upstairs and he was able to eat with all of us.

A day in which we all laughed - joked - and poked fun at each other.

And to be able to do all of that that this year was one of the best Christmas presents ever.

Well, the day finally arrived. A day unlike any other day at New Life Oak Forest..... P-day, Dec 21st. No not Pay day but Play day. Everything was in place for the Mouse’s Tale play. A couple of beautifully painted back drops. (thank you Jerry, Laura, Toni) We had professional looking wardrobe (thank you Maritza, Christina, Cindy, Vicky) We even had a video taping of the event courtesy of Tim “the lens” Dearborn. (Hey Tim where’s my name in the credits : )

So anyway there we were, a stage complete with backdrops, props and a manger. We had actors with great looking wardrobes. We had sheep, camels, cows, donkeys, sparrows, mice, before you think where’d they get those animals...the animals were played by the children from our Sunday children’s ministry. There was a great turnout of friends, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles to make the picture complete. And then the play began and we were off. What an amazing thing to see God working through these children to bless His bigger children..... The New Life Family. They were amazing, even the unpredictability of the 3 and 4 yr olds God used to really bless the body. He absolutely knit and wove a bigger tapestry than we ever thought or imagined.

As I look back to when we started preparing and rehearsing, I can see His hand weaving and directing everything even though at times we were left scratching our heads as to what we should do. Then He would supply what we needed and we would praise Him.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is that we serve an Amazing, Wonderful, Awesome God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think according to His power working within us....Ephesians 3:20 To Him be the Glory!!

Thank you God

 1 Blessed is the man
       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
       or stand in the way of sinners
       or sit in the seat of mockers.

 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers.

 9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
       By living according to your word.

Ready, Camera, Action!!! O.K, I’ve been at New Life Community Oak Forest Campus for a little over a year serving as Worship Leader and it’s been an amazing, awesome experience. I’ve been blessed to serve along side some great, gifted and talented people. I praise God for everyone here at New Life. I’ve received so much encouragement....  it’s so kewl!!.

So as Nacho Libre would say I’ve been encouraged to add to my Worship Leader “skeels”  A new “skeel” which would be “Director” More specific would be Directing our Christmas Play. (It could have been a Christmas tragedy..... but God) It’s my first foray into this arena and God has been in it and blessing along the way. He’s brought a crew of volunteers consisting of artists, theater people, servants and a great bunch of children as it is a children’s play to help out. It’s something to see the little we offer God being multiplied. We were wondering about wardrobe for the characters and God provided as we found some complete outfits for shepherds, wise men and angels neatly waiting for us in boxes tucked away for several years from the previous church. We also found some previous props that we thought were thrown away really weren’t. I really feel God’s presence and blessing on this Program as we aren’t lacking anything and at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if a live camel showed up some how for some authenticity!! God is gooood!

Well gotta run

Be blessed and have a blessed  Christmas!

Lupe’

We were so poor growing up that my mom would give us kids tamales on Christmas morning  just so we would have something to unwrap. 

Yes, we were poor but I didn’t know it.  Because I was happy.  I remember getting a duffle bag full of toys one Christmas.  Later I found out it came from the Salvation Army.  I miss my mom and dad. They’ve been with the Lord now several years.  I think I got my sense of humor from my father.  He was a real comedian.   Nowadays Christmas Is more like a marathon which even extends past Christmas day.  I think Grace and I have already attended 5 Christmas parties.  Nevertheless, we always come back to the reason for the season, Jesus. 

Oh, how He loves us and you too.  

Peace Out.  PA

Being new to the NL team, I've teased the rest of the guys about how often everyone uses the word bro. 

"Hey, bro!"
"How you doing, bro?"
"Good to see you, bro!"
"Good job bro!"
"Praying for you bro!"

I'm not used to the general title and it's funny to hear people use such a common word so often, without really realizing it.  Right, dude?  

Over the short time I've been able to interact with the leaders here, I'm seeing more and more that this isn't just a flippantly used cliché.  It's a bonding word – it's a relational word that concisely gets to the deep relationship these men have.  Someone in a meeting a couple weeks ago said it was a "brotherhood."  This explains why some of the guys like the Lord of the Rings "Fellowship" so much.  Monday morning's pastoral meeting is like a weekly gathering of the Council of Elrond.

This brotherhood isn't just something interesting to observe, it's a privledge to be apart of.  I feel a deep sense of honor knowing I am member of this brotherhood now, part of this Fellowship.  Not as much history as some - but definitly just as much a bro.