Merry Christmas

LeAnn, the kids, and I are enjoying some time with my folks as well as my brother and his family at my parents place in Pella, IA. We've enjoyed seeing my mom in the church's drama team on Sunday, taken in a candlelight service last night, opened up presents this morning, and eaten lots of butterhorns (a Bird family tradition).  It has been a very Merry Christmas.

Wherever you are, I hope today has been a very Merry  Christmas.  Even if you had to work today, or you weren't with the loved ones you wanted to be with, or something else that would be grounds to complain with, remember that a couple of thousand of years ago, a child was born who grew up for the purpose of dying for the sins of mankind.  And that means that you and I can have a Merry Christmas regardless of our circumstances.

To close, here are the words to one of my favorite Christmas songs written by Andrew Peterson:

While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 
All seated on the ground 
The angel of the Lord came down, 
And glory shone around 

"Fear not!" said he; for mighty dread 
Had seized their troubled minds 
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring 
To you and all mankind 

To you in David's house this day 
Is born of David's line 
The Savior who is Christ the Lord 
And this shall be the sign: 

The heavenly babe you there shall find 
to human view displayed 
All meanly wrapped in swaddling bands 
And in a manger laid" 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah 
Hallelujah, Christ is born 
Hallelujah, Hallelujah 
Hallelujah, Christ is born 

"All glory be to God on high 
And to the earth be peace 
Good will henceforth from God to man 
Begin and never cease"

The Adventures of the Birdnest (2007)

Another Christmas, another Christmas letter from the Birdnest. This year's creative twist? A comic!

Click here to read the PDF of "The Adventures of the Birdnest! (Issue 2007)"

Junky Car Club

I am part of a club that I haven't officially joined, but I've been unknowingly part of it the past few years. The club is called the Junky Car Club. To join, you simply have to have a car that is 10 years or older, and the money you would normally use for a car payment for something "nicer" goes toward some cause.

One of the causes mentioned is Compassion. LeAnn and I started sponsoring a Compassion child our first year of marriage, and now sponsor two sisters in Tanzania (looking to add a boy next year when my son, S, turns 5).

And I drive a 1996 Ford Taurus Wagon with 146,000 miles on it. Not exactly the kind of car I would normally pick, but it gets me from home to work everyday without too much complaining (the transmission slips a little, but nothing is screaming under the hood at me). So I guess without even trying, I qualify for the club.

I might join officially, but part of me doesn't really want to. I mean, the club is about giving up something to give something. I think that is awesome, but in all honestly I don't feel like I've really given up anything. I give to Lucia and Rosina through Compassion because they need it, not because I need to go without a nicer car. I give to my church because of our mission to share Christ with our community. I give to missionaries because they are sharing Christ with people I can't. I give to local charities because they are making a difference in people's lives. I guess I wouldn't think twice about it.

So I'm conflicted about joining. I want to join to inspire others to give up something in order to give something, but I don't want to make it look like I'm trumpeting my own greatness. I guess I prefer to fast in secret rather than let everyone know.

More Purging

Looks like I'm not the only one who has been purging things in his life.  Gordon MacDonald writes about how he recently purged his cell phone contact list.  Perhaps there is a lesson or two in here you and I can learn.

Coming out of the Closet

One of the many projects LeAnn and I didn't get to during my first week off in November (due to my illness) was purging our closets of old and unused clothes.  In our 13 1/2 years of marriage (as of today - I'd like to wish my wife a happy half-anniversary), we have never truly purged our closets.  We still had worn out clothes from our high school days sitting on our hangers.  While it was tempting to keep them preparing for the 80s fashion retro fad, we knew it was time to help our clothes come out of the closet.

I was eager to begin the project, but the first few items I was pulling out, I found myself hesitating.  I didn't want to part with these pieces of fabric!  So I compromised and created a "maybe" pile.  I was surprised at how I wanted to keep these things, even though I hadn't worn them for 2 or 3 years.  But once I got going, it became easier and easier.  In fact, I started having so much fun, I was even willing to take the risk as a husband and tell my wife what she needed to get rid of! :o)

Eventually, all of my "maybe's" went in to the bags destined for Goodwill.  And I was pleased at the sense of peace it gave me to have my closets cleansed.  The more I learn about myself, the more I realize how uncluttered I prefer my environments, so it feels really good to walk into a thinned closet, knowing I have everything I need and perhaps someone else will benefit from the items I no longer was using.

So give yourself a Christmas gift this year by getting rid of a few things out of your closet.  It might put you in the Christmas Spirit more than you expect.