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3. Wayne’s Weekly Twitter Digest – 2012-01-22 to 2012-01-28

Last week, I posted my picks for this year’s 2012 Blog Madness Tournament.  I’m happy to say that three of my four picks advanced to this week’s Final Four with only Karl Bastian not making the cut (sorry Karl, I understand Gus was actually campaigning against you).  The final four is set, and it’s some hefty competition:

• Jason Martin
• Jim Wideman
• Jenny Funderburke
• West Coast CM (Anthony Prince)

So, today marks the official beginning of my “Vote For Jenny 2012” campaign.  I said last week that I hoped she wins this whole thing, and this week I am trying to do something about it.  I’ve been a fan of Jenny’s blog since it was called something like “Thoughts my Husband is Sick of Hearing” (I’m paraphrasing, but I’m pretty sure it was something like that).  Now rebranded “Kidmin Thoughts” and hosted at JennyFunderburke.com, I sincerely believe it to be one of, if not the, best children’s ministry blogs out there.  Jenny writes with a knowledgeable, and very approachable, style.  I am consistently edified and inspired by her thoughts and stories.

I finally had a chance to meet Jenny in person at last summer’s CMX when she participated in Jim Wideman’s genius bar.  Jenny is one of those people who makes you feel like you’re old friends from the moment you meet.  She just exudes warmth and friendliness.  And, as I found out at CMX, she is also a gifted speaker and presenter.  I had already read most of what Jenny writes, but at CMX I had the chance to listen to her do a presentation as well, and it was perhaps the greatest testimony to how engaging she is.  Let me preface this with a couple of facts.  #1: I am not in preschool ministry (though I do think preschoolers are awesome, and I have one of my own).  #2: I am not a momma (though I am married to one).  Despite that, I hung on every word of Jenny’s presentation on “A Momma’s Non-Negotiables for Preschool Ministry.”  It is the sign of a top notched speaker when they can totally engage you in something you have no personal stake in and you walk away having learned something.

As best I can tell, Jenny is much to humble to promote herself, so I plan to do it for her this week!   So, join me in the “Vote for Jenny 2012” campaign.  Head on over to 2012 Blog Madness Tournament and vote for Jenny today!  Then, spread the word!  Grab the graphic above and encourage your “people” to Vote for Jenny too.  Let’s make sure that she wins this thing convincingly. Voting ends sometime Sunday Thursday March 29 at approximately 10:00 PM EST, so head over now to vote.

Oh, and do yourself a favor and add Jenny’s blog to your favorite reader!

Related posts:

1. Dad in the Middle Needs YOUR VOTE Today!
2. Vote Dad in the Middle and Kidmin1124 (aka It’s On Like Donkey Kong)!
3. Kidmin Blog Madness – We Made It to Round 2 – Now Go Vote!

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3. Wayne’s Weekly Twitter Digest – 2012-02-12 to 2012-02-18

I'm not going to say that @rogerfields seems quiet this afternoon, but…. #justsayin 16:33:30, 2012-03-11

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@AmyFentonLee @mattmckee @stephisorange @kmcollister Thanks! I had it earlier but closed my browser. 13:20:21, 2012-03-06

@franktan Thanks Frank. Unfortunately, I have to be selective today. I'll have to keep up with the rest via twitter. in reply to franktan 13:17:01, 2012-03-06

I understand @Barbaragraves has agreed to send cookies to everyone watching #OrangeOnline today. That's cool. 13:11:20, 2012-03-06

RT @SavedSister7: Waving to all my #kidmin friends watching #OrangeOnline! // waving back 13:04:36, 2012-03-06

@adolan @Barbaragraves My daughter would be proud. Now, my son would chastise me for "trying to be cool," but that's another story. in reply to adolan 15:52:08, 2012-03-05

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My 4 yr old's favorite song off the new @yancynotnancy CD? Don't Be A Turkey! Thx @jimwideman. We listen to it about 50 times/day now. 14:08:09, 2012-02-14

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@michaelchanley Glad @rogerfields jumped the track with the mustache and shaved it! http://t.co/xDtGt4yq 12:44:54, 2012-02-10

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Case in Point

At dinner the other night, my four year old asked me how old God was.  I, of course, launched into a theological discussion about the eternality of God and preexistence of Christ.  Upon further reflection though, I realize why Nathan was really asking.  We had spent the last weekend at a birthday party for my best friend who just turned 40.  I’m not far behind.  It turns out that Nathan wasn’t interested in the eternality of God so much as he was interested in figuring out who was older – God or Me.  Like I said, you gotta love kids!

Related posts:

1. 10 Things I Love About Being A Dad
2. When Love Came Down (December 16)

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@pastorjaredm Check your inbox. Not sure it's 1st grade ready, but it might help. in reply to pastorjaredm 12:51:07, 2012-01-12

@pastorjaredm Not in a 140 characters. in reply to pastorjaredm 12:02:02, 2012-01-12

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@mattguevara no doubt! My family now has six people, 3 iPhones, 3 iPod touches and an iPad. My kids from age 4 to 18 all enjoy them. in reply to mattguevara 21:57:09, 2011-12-28

@pastorjaredm Which is a testament to how little I have been on Twitter recently. It's been "cleansing" like a colonic. in reply to pastorjaredm 14:37:21, 2011-12-28

@gregbaird Your work blesses us all. As for me, I'm glad I'm off until Tuesday. in reply to gregbaird 14:35:09, 2011-12-28

@pastorjaredm Not sure what that is but thanks…I think! #kidmin in reply to pastorjaredm 14:29:32, 2011-12-28

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@mattguevara no doubt! My family now has six people, 3 iPhones, 3 iPod touches and an iPad. My kids from age 4 to 18 all enjoy them. in reply to mattguevara 21:57:09, 2011-12-28

@pastorjaredm Which is a testament to how little I have been on Twitter recently. It's been "cleansing" like a colonic. in reply to pastorjaredm 14:37:21, 2011-12-28

@gregbaird Your work blesses us all. As for me, I'm glad I'm off until Tuesday. in reply to gregbaird 14:35:09, 2011-12-28

@pastorjaredm Not sure what that is but thanks…I think! #kidmin in reply to pastorjaredm 14:29:32, 2011-12-28

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To view the entire 2011 Christmas Carol Advent check out our Christmas Carol Advent index page.

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvM3Lp_BZeQ

Story Behind the Song

Written by Matthew West, this song was released on the 2011 album The Heart of Christmas.

Commentary & Analysis

If you love Christmas, then every year when it’s over you are likely to experience a little bit of a let down.  That is what this song is all about.  As Christians though, we need to remind ourselves that while the celebration of Jesus’ birth may be over, we should celebrate 365 days a year.  Just because the Christmas season has come and gone pales in comparison to the fact that Jesus is alive and that God lives with us each and every day.  We should celebrate that and focus on that.  So, in the words of Matthew West, “Happy day after Christmas, and Merry rest of the year.”  Make your year count for Jesus this year!

Questions for Further Reflection / Devotion

1. How will you make your year count for Jesus this year?
2. How will you keep joy in your life and the lives of your loved ones all year round?
3. Take some time today to celebrate and worship Christ with your family and loved ones.  Rejoice in the light of the world.  He will last so much longer than those Christmas lights that you need to take down!

Lyrics

Here comes the letdown Christmas is over
Here comes the meltdown, there goes the cheer
But before we have a breakdown, let us remember
The light of the world is still here

Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world

Come January I’m ready for summer
The Super Bowl’s over and I’ll settle for spring
Sometimes we all need a change in the weather
But it won’t change the reason we sing

Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world
The light of the world
The light of the world

So take down the stockings, take back the sweaters
Take down the lights and the star and the tree
But don’t let this world take your joy after Christmas
Take joy to the world and just sing

Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
[x2]

The light of the world [x7]

Related posts:

1. December 1 – Christmas With A Capital "C" (A Christmas Carol Advent)
2. December 17 – Babe in The Straw (A Christmas Carol Advent)
3. December 22 – Come And Worship (A Christmas Carol Advent)

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyR0lwO-nXc

Story Behind the Song

This song was written and performed by Go Fish and appears on their Christmas album called Snow which was released in 2006.  We actually kicked off our Christmas Song Advent with a Go Fish song (Christmas With A Capital “C”) and it seems appropriate to end with this one which reminds us that Christmas may be about the birth of Christ, but in the end we must never lose sight of the cross!

Commentary & Analysis

This song isn’t as well known, but I couldn’t think of a better way to “finish off” this Christmas Carol Advent than with this song from Go Fish.  This song reminds us, on Christmas Day, that this holiday is actually quite secondary to the death and resurrection of Christ.  Over the last 25 days, we have looked at a number of songs celebrating the manger, the angels, the shepherds and the wise men.  Those are an integral part of Christmas celebration, but we should never lose sight of the cross of Christ where God paid the penalty for our sins so that we could be reconciled to him forever.  It’s about accepting him as our Lord and savior so that we can, through his death, be born again into the kingdom of God.  While we celebrate a babe born in the straw, we must remember the stone that was rolled away to find an empty tomb “so we can have real life someday.”  The second set of verses turns from the traditional, and biblical facets of Christmas, to remind us that the current trimmings (family, presents, snow, decorations and the feelings they all elicit), while nice are also not what Christmas is really about.  No matter how much we enjoy Christmas, and we should, we have to remember that it is only the beginning of Christ’s time on earth, and it was the end of his time here that gives us the opportunity at eternal life.

Questions for further Reflection / Devotion

The following questions are meant for your reflection and or devotion.  Feel free to meditate on them, discuss them with your family or others or post your responses here.  I would love to hear from you.

1. Why do you think we, as Christians, spend so much more time and money celebrating Christmas rather than Easter?
2. How can you spend time focusing of the cross this Christmas?
3. How can you balance the joys of family and all the trimmings (which are not bad things) with the Biblical purpose of Christmas?
4. Many families read the Christmas story ever Christmas morning or some time during the Christmas season.  What tradition can you start this year to shift some focus from Christmas Morning to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ?
5. “It’s about God’s love, Nailed to a tree, It’s about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me.” I challenge you this Christmas – every time you look at the Christmas Tree in your house, remember the tree Jesus was nailed to and what he did for you and me!

Lyrics

It’s not just about the manger
Where the baby lay
It’s not all about the angels
Who sang for him that day

It’s not just about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star
It’s not all about the wise men
Who travelled from afar

Chorus:
It’s about the cross
It’s about my sin
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It’s about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday

It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross

Verse 2:

It’s not just about the presents
Underneath the tree
It’s not all about the feeling
That the season brings to me

It’s not just about coming home
To be with those you love
It’s not all about the beauty
In the snow I’m dreaming of

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:

The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
But it’s the ending that can save you and that’s why we celebrate

It’s about the cross
It’s about my sin
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It’s about God’s love
Nailed to a tree
It’s about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me

It’s about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
So that you and I could have real life someday

It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross

Related posts:

1. December 25 – It’s About the Cross (A Christmas Carol Advent)
2. It’s Christmas Time (December 7)
3. Born to Die (December 21)

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