Happy Christmas

I hope you have a wonderful holiday.

God Bless!

Or the Warm Tropical Beaches of the Florida Coast

Some have said that my appreciation for the state of Florida borders on obsession rather than admiration and affection. This might be true. I do love the state, and think it is one the better ones in the union.

But as I drove to Melbourne, FL from Louisiana last Thursday something funny happened. If you paid attention to the weather in the Southeast at all last week, you may have heared that a big low went through from Texas to the east coast. It rained profusely. I left New Orleans Thursday morning, and as soon as I made it to the Louisiana/Mississippi border it began to rain. Not only did it rain, it stormed. Did it just storm? No. There was 40 MPH winds, lighting, hail, everything. It was crazy. I think it was the worst storm I ever drove through (with the exception of Hurricane Ivan in 2004). At one point, I was on I-10 driving about 30 MPH! I couldn't see for hours. It was horrible. I just wanted the storm to end, for it to get quiet, and me to drive the speed limit.

Yet, as I approached the Alabama/Florida border, I experienced a relief. As soon as I crossed into the 27th state something happened. The rain stopped. Sure it sprinkled here and there. But it was like the clouds parted and there was a little light from the sun behind the many large clouds. As I crossed into Florida I thought to myself that this was significant. It stopped raining as soon as I got here. It was like God was saying, "You are home." Even if it had not been raining, once I get to Florida, things always just seem better. And maybe, just maybe, God turned the water off just so my obsession/appreciation would continue.

Maybe it's not that weird after all.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Music and Lyrics: Traditional
Additional Lyrics by David Bazan

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And after Thanksgiving, our folks unpacked the manger scene
With Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and three kings on bended knee
But left the manger empty til we slept on Christmas Eve
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And now my wife and children dream of gifts beneath the tree
While I place in the manger baby Jesus figurine
Sipping Christmas whiskey wondering if I still believe
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Oh Come, O Come Emmanuel

Veni, veni Emmanuel,
Captivum solve Israel,
Qui gemit in exilio
Privatus Dei Filio.
Gaude, gaude! Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.