Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!!!!!!

We want to wish all our family and friends a very, merry Christmas and a blessed 2009.
We thank God for all of you.
Thank you for all your love and prayers!

Luke 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Do not be afraid!
God has sent His Son, Emmanuel. He is with us!
Glory to God in the Highest,
and peace and goodwill to all.
Love,
Wink and Jean Ann

Favorite Christmas Songs

I love the music of Christmas. It brings with it memories and melodies that lift me up and fill me with peace and joy. If you think about it, all the words are uplifting in that they convey the message of Jesus.
Sure, happy songs about snow and bells and Santa Claus are joyful reminders of our youth (before credit cards, traffic, and busy malls). But the hope found in Jesus surpasses all that man can ever supply or even imagine.
I have decided to try and come up with my 10 favorite, all-time Christmas songs. I would love for you to share yours as well. Let's all compare lists. I am sure to forget some. Go below this post and click on "Comments from you" and type your list.
Well, here are mine:

1. O Holy Night (D. Phelps)
2. White Christmas (Crosby)
3. Blue Christmas (Elvis)
4. Christmas is all in the Heart (Chapman)
5. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (Nat King Cole)
6. Do You Hear What I Hear (W. Houston)
7. O Come Emmanuel (Chapman)
8. Joseph's Lullaby (Mercy Me)
9. Mary Did You Know (K. Rogers)
10. All I Really Want for Christmas (Chapman)
(11. Tennessee Christmas (Grant) :)

There are SO MANY that I had to leave off my list.
These have all blessed me as of late, but so many over the years have given me pause to thank God for the joy of this season and the birth of His only begotten Son.
God bless you all and Merry Christmas!

First Sunday

We woke up early like it was Christmas morning. Jean Ann had some last minute things to do in her office for the first impressions ministry on this inaugural day for our new sanctuary, so we put on our "Sunday's best" and drove to church on this beautiful morning of Dec. 7, 2008.
I had every intention of taking pictures. I picked up my handy, digital Kodak that has travelled the world with us. I put it in my pocket so it would be ready for storing memories- but something amazing happened this morning. As we arrived at the church, a feeling came over me, and I didn't really care about storing pictures on my 2 gigabyte disc anymore. We began to soak it all into our minds and into our hearts. Every eye that met ours was filled with a sparkle of joy. Smiles were stretched on the faces of every man, woman, and child. Red and white poinsettias surrounded the new fountain in our foyer. Directly behind it, the new church bookstore and coffee shop was already filled with interested early-risers. The festive holiday decor of green wreathes with red bows, along with wooden crosses backlit with white lights, and golden lights filling the spaces of the colored stained glass, all brought with them smiles abundant.
People everywhere. We shook hands. We hugged necks. All glowed with what must be near to the glory of heaven. I know that blessed essentially means happy. So, blessed and happy we all were to highest degree.
We were greeted with so many stories of how folks had waited so many years for this day. Robert Brown, our member and building contractor, had been the lead on all three phases of the buildings in this location. He told me and Jean Ann that only by the love and grace of God that this was coming to fruition.
God had built this church, and now everyone was there to give Him all the glory!
Sunday school classes met at 9am. All the rooms seemed to be furiously filling.
That being said, all classes were letting out early so people could go grab a seat in time for our 10:30am service.
Jean Ann and I headed to the new choir rehearsal hall.
More smiles.
We put on our new concert-black dressy robes and found our spots in our rows.
Even more smiles.
We warmed up, discussed the order of service, and prayed.
I led the tenor line and awaited all the other lines before we were given the cue to enter while the orchestra played a marvelous overture/anthem.
More and more smiles. (It was such a remarkable view to look into the faces of the congregation. Old and young, their faces shined with joy!)
We remained standing as the orchestra ended their song and the congregation burst out the seams (over 2000 people). The pastor asked everyone to move into the rows and make openings for all that needed a seat. Today, no one seemed to mind. Nothing was an inconvenience. It was all about the experience, the worship, the communion, the togetherness.
SMILES with SMILES on top of them.
We sang. Hands raised. Love out poured.
Pastor Tommy prayed.
Tim and a praise group sang a beautiful song to Jesus.
All stood! Amen!
Pastor Chuck walked to the pulpit.
He started to speak,
he paused, his head dropped...
He tried to get a couple of words out, but they were broken with his tears...
We all could heard his heart. We felt what he was feeling.
Tears of joy.
Jean Ann began to cry. Of course, I cried too.
Many cried. (Sniffles echoed throughout his prayer.)
He began to pray and thanked God for the overflowing of blessings on this church, on this day.
This was the first time in about 15 years that we had all met in worship together as the church body. We were all together. Praising His name above all other names.
Pastor Chuck preached a message about Jesus building the church.
He ended by saying that we are the "Church Triumphant!"
Indeed we were that day.
Indeed we are.
Smiles, tears...a love offering to our Savior Jesus Christ.
I pray these memories will stay with us all forever. And today, my eyes and my heart were my camera. I pray that we will honor Him in unity and peace through our love and faithfulness to the one true God. The Creator. The GREAT I AM!
The Pastor said that only the Word will be preached from this pulpit. I say, Amen!
I praise God for Jesus. Thank you for this church, your children, and all the blessings you have bestowed upon us. Thank YOU for this First Sunday. Only you are worthy of our praise!
Merry CHRISTmas everyone!

Blessed Night

It was Friday night, December 3, 2004, and the Collierville Christmas parade was moving forward past the front of our church with marching bands, decorated floats, which along with the cold temperatures, brought everyone festive holiday smiles in anticipation of their first glimpse of Santa Claus.
As it had now been a tradition, our church had set up a couple of stations to give away free hot chocolate to the frozen bystanders and their "oblivious-to-the-cold" children as they awaited the arrival of the first entry of popsicled participants in the parade. :)
I filled cup after cup of the cocoa, and as we finally ran out, we tore down our temporary coverings and tables and I started walking toward my car.
Um, one problem though which I really hadn't considered- my car was parked on the OTHER side of the street. That means I would have to interrupt the procession to get to my vehicle which was parked at my friend's house. I would have to risk being romped by a cascade of clowns. (Can you tell I love alliteration?:)
So, indeed I was stuck for the moment.
Aren't you glad that God uses times when we think we are stagnant to really bless us. We think that the moment is a mere vapor of time, but the Lord has a plan for us from the beginning.
How he blessed me that night.
Four years ago, tonight, I walked along the congregated parade-watchers and stopped in a place that would change my life. I was standing next to Jean Ann Duval.
In all actuality, I was standing next to many other people too, including our mutual friend Beth Cox and her lovely daughter, Mary. But, Jean Ann was right next to me. She was bundled up so tight that I could only see her beautiful smile and her sparkling eyes and some of her long hair flowing from beneath her pretty toboggan and scarf.
God put us together that night. We started talking about how much we both loved Christmas. Minutes (the vapor kind only a few minutes ago) went by and before you know it I was walking her back to her van because the two hour parade had ended.
I told her that I would meet her tomorrow night, Saturday, for our favorite holiday movie on the Collierville square, "It's A Wonderful Life."
I saw her the next night with her kids. And the following night at our church as we sat together for the Children Christmas program. (I got her phone number at church Sunday morning at choir.) And the following night we went out to eat, talked, and laughed as we went to another Christmas program at another church. We loved all the same things.
And what I found out about her that I loved the most is that she loved Jesus. He was first in her life. We had so many things in common, but that was by far the most important.

Tonight, as we go together as husband and wife, and as we stand out in the cold in front of our new church sanctuary, serving hot chocolate and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, I am sure we will both be filled with love and joy and wonderful memories. I thank God for giving us the greatest gift in the world- His Son, Jesus Christ- the reason for CHRISTmas. AND, I thank God for sending me a loving wife that wants to serve Him with all her heart, mind, soul, and strength, and who shows me her love every moment I am with her.
What a blessed night!
I love you my Beautiful!
Wink