My Christmas Playlist Part 2 (Continued with a New Year's twist)

To every quandary there is a solution. On Christmas Day, I promised my next blog would be the remainder of my Christmas playlist, yet since today is the last day of 2012 I wanted to share some thoughts on the New Year. So, I thought I would make this article a joint venture. Here are the last five things I want to leave with you in 2012: Celebrate, reflect, belong, love, be glad…

Here we go with the final four of my Christmas playlist….


Song #4- I CELEBRATE THE DAY by Reliant K.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsPFNY4Z5t0&feature=player_detailpage

Here is a song from my son’s generation that really is a definitely make you think kind of song. Reliant K released this song in 2007, written by lead singer, Matt Thiessen, who discusses how he finds himself on New Year’s wondering why he hasn’t really changed that much from the previous year. Then he looks back at what Jesus must have been thinking when He was born and realizes all that Jesus did to give him real life, giving him reason to celebrate.

Favorite line-“And the first time that you opened your eyes did you realize that you would be my Savior”

 

Song # 3-STRANGE WAY TO SAVE THE WORLD as performed by 4HIM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEN3wNWM1eE&feature=player_detailpage

This is a unique song that I fell in love with soon after it came out in 1993. It was written by Mark Harris, who is a member of the Christian Contemporary group, 4HIM. This is a favorite because the song is a father’s take on the wondrous event of Jesus being born. So often Joseph is overlooked when we talk about the Christmas story, but since he was the head of the family it is important to get his perspective as well. The song is about contemplation and how it couldn’t have made any sense to Joseph, when He looks at Mary, the babe lying in a manger and the message the angel delivered to him. Yet, he goes along with God’s plan, anyway. Like Joseph, we should all reflect on God’s ability to do the impossible.

Favorite line-“But Joseph knew the reason; love had to reach so far”

 

Song # 2-MERRY CHRISTMAS as performed by Third Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dy8RW6aHXWQ

The thought of having a family is not lost on me. I don’t think of it all the time, but there was a moment in my life when I thought I had lost my entire family. If it were up to me everyone should have one. In 2006, Brad Avery, member of the band, Third Day, wrote this beautiful song about the long wait till he and his family could finally call their adopted daughter, from China, theirs.. For me, being a father of two daughters born in China, this song deeply resounds in my heart and soul. It is good to belong.

Favorite line-“It’s Christmas time again and now you’re home, your family is here so you will never be alone”

 

Song #1- TENDER TENNESEE CHRISTMAS as performed by Amy Grant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3sQjaek-5jA

This is my all-time favorite Christmas song because more times than not, it is what my family plays when we open the gifts. Ironically, I live in Pennsylvania, not Tennessee, but this tune always makes me feel right home. And nobody seems to set the mood, at least for me, better than Amy Grant, who wrote this song with her then husband, Gary Chapman in 1983. When Amy Grant plays, it’s like she’s sitting in my living room singing just for me and my family and you just know it’s time to open the gifts. You can just feel the love of family in the air.

Favorite line-“Where the love circles around us, like the gifts around the tree.”

 

As we begin 2013, I have  two words for you - be glad. It was amazing to me as I compiled the videos from you tube, that correspond with this list, how difficult it was to find videos that did not have a negative commentary attached to them. Yet, I am encouraged, in a world that can seem cruel at times, that I am only accountable for the actions and words that I express.

So, with that thought in mind, I will leave you with a non-Christmas video entitled GOOD TO BE ALIVE by Jason Gray:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83R-XQhDUWg&feature=player_detailpage

In this New Year may we all find something  to be glad about.

Swavel

 

My Christmas Playlist-Part 1

 In keeping with the festive spirit of the holiday season I would be honored to share with you my twelve most favorite Christmas songs. So, without further adieu, here is My Christmas playlist:

Song # 12-WE THREE KINGS as performed by the piano guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu5RY94ldDc&feature=player_detailpage

This is my favorite hymn I enjoy singing in church because it has a somewhat regal feel to it. This rather solemn tune was written by a reverend in 1857 that I can sing without embarrassing myself

Favorite line: “guide us to thy perfect light.”

Song #11-HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING as performed by Carrie Underwood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=i5KFggYRMdU

It’s just not Christmas until this classic is sung. Written originally by Charles Wesley in 1739, however it took three other men and over a hundred more years till it become the piece we traditionally sing today. It is a song so synonymous with Christmas that it is featured in three of the most classic Christmas specials of all time: Charlie Brown Christmas, the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life.

Favorite line: “Mild he (Jesus) lays his glory by, born that man no more may die.”

Song #10-MARY DID YOU KNOW as performed by Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=68uILVp691sp691s

Thought I would include this one because it is one of my wife’s favorites. It was written in 1984 by Christian comedian, Mark Lowry who wrote it for his church play that year. This song epitomizes what Mary could have thought while she was holding the baby Jesus on that first Christmas. Like a modern day Silent Night it makes you reflect about the true meaning of Christmas.

Favorite line: “This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you.”

Song #9-HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS as performed by Burl Ives

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oke4ZUhPDtw

How can you go wrong with something so upbeat that begs you to dance and sing along? Written in 1964 by composer Johnny Marks it became famous when it was featured in the animated Christmas special, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which he wrote as well. Who else but Burl can get away with using the word holly jolly, all the while making it timeless.

Favorite line: “say hello to friends you know and everyone you meet”

Song # 8- THE CHRISTMAS SONG as performed by Johnny Mathis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjPkbBRFb8k&feature=player_detailpage

This song fondly reminds me of my youth when during the Christmas season my mom and I would set the table together as this tune would play in the background. The most unique thing about this song was it was written by Mel Torme’ in 1944 during a blistering hot summer in an effort to think cool. For my liking, Johnny Mathis’ distinctive vocals soothe my soul and put me in the mood for Christmas as he croons effortlessly about chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Favorite Line : "Although it's been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you."

Song # 7: SANTA LOOKED A LOT LIKE DADDY as performed by Buck Owens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XdnA2DVp5M&feature=player_detailpage

This particular odd favorite came from a cassette tape my dad made about fifteen years ago. My most cherished memories of this song are of my eldest daughter and my dad singing it non-stop whenever they were together during December. Long before country legend Buck Owens was the quirky host of Hee Haw, he wrote this song in 1965 with his trusted guitarist, Don Rich. Great thing about this relatively unknown song, you can’t sing it out of key to it.

Favorite line:“Santa looked like daddy or daddy looked like him, it's not the way I had him pictured, Santa was a much too thin.”

Song # 6: LINUS AND LUCY as performed by the Vince Guaraldi Trio

Dance:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBPcoI4OE9Y&feature=player_detailpage

Song:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=06DFATE7lBM

This is my favorite Christmas tune I can’t help but hum along to during this time of the year, no matter where I might be. Jazz musician, Vince Guaraldi came up with this catchy piece for the Charlie Brown Christmas special. Funny thing was that the network executives did not like this song or the other renderings at all, but fortunately the public did. My favorite scene is the one when the Peanuts’ gang is supposed to be acting in the play and instead is dancing to this tune. Sadly, the kids ‘style of dancing is far superior to my own lack of rhythm, so I must stick to humming.

Favorite dance move: The sleepwalking one performed by the kid in the green shirt known as Shermy.

Song # 5: LITTLE DRUMMER BOY as performed by Johnny Cash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xEk_dy4eX3o

This song comes from my childhood when my brothers and I would listen to one of my dad’s old Johnny Cash vinyl records and just couldn’t get enough of those pa-rum-pa-pum-pums. This particular favorite was written in 1941 by American composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis. For my money, it best sums up how we all should see Christmas, that being through the eyes of a child.

Favorite line: “ I played my best for Him(Jesus). Then, He smiled at me, me and my drum.”

That concludes my list for now. I’ll be back soon with my top four favorite Christmas songs. So, have a merry and meaningful day as you and your family celebrate Christ’s birth at this sacred time of the year.

Swavel

 

 

Never Had

“Every soul is born with the God given need to belong and be loved by someone.” (Al Detweiler)
 

During this Christmas season, Amy and I can think of no better gift than that of family.
So, we wanted to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to all of you who
were instrumental in bringing Lia to our family.

On June 18^th, 2012 we adopted Faith; to be precise, Lia Faith XiaoLi Swavely. She is a nine year old little girl, born and raised in China, full of spunk, who happens to have limited vision. Faith, at least for us, can best be defined by believing in something you can’t see, all the while believing God can and will make it happen, if He chose to do so.

Her inclusion in our family has been nothing short of miraculous. God asked my wife and I to step out in faith, to adopt “one of the least of these”. Lia was born with microphthalmia which means her eyes never fully developed and therefore, she has very limited vision. Although once you meet her, you will most likely be left with the distinct impression that she’s never had a limitation at all.

A few months ago, in the midst of washing the dishes with Lia, she said something that gave me pause. We were talking about family when she said, “I never had a family before.” For a moment, I was taken back because I have always had a family that loved me, who I loved, and was always there for me.  However, up until June 18^th, Lia never experienced having a family.

She is quickly learning English and doing extremely well picking up English Braille. She attends our local public school and has made many new friends. She is beginning to learn violin. One of her favorite things to do is Wii bowling and she’s very competitive. On her second day home, she was already, literally, running to our neighbor, Grammy Kass, and would chat away to her heart’s content. She rides a bicycle, sort of, with training wheels. She loves purple and we love her.

When God allowed Lia Faith to join our family, He gave us not just another daughter, but the unique ability to see with our souls, rather than just with our eyes. Thanks to you, and many others like you, Lia now has something she may never have experienced without your help: a family.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas,
Aaron for Amy, Jordan, Sianna, and Lia

On Keeping Christmas

Over the years there has been a lot of heated discussion on whether we should greet one another with the phrase Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas? For me, my stance has been and always will be to keep Christ in Christmas.

Let’s explore the alternative for just a moment. Imagine that Jesus never came at all.

Now, that is somewhat mind blowing I know, because we all have grown up with the story about Jesus and the manger. But if you take a look at the Christmas story it sounds like something even a fiction writer would never have dreamed up.

No fiction writer would have written that Mary, the mother of Jesus was a pregnant virgin teenager. Huh, how does that work? On top of that, Joseph, her betrothed lived in a society where if your wife to be gets pregnant out of wedlock the result is she would be stoned to death. Yet, he married her and kept it quiet, after he got a visit from an angel.

Here’s another thing we would not have written. If Jesus were supposed to be a king why wasn’t he born in a palace or a fancy hotel with wealthy physicians by his side? Instead his parents are snubbed by the patrons of the city they were in and Jesus was born in a small, messy stable where they feed animals. The only onlookers to the whole marvelous sight are cattle, sheep camels and the like.

Then when he did get visitors he got smelly ones. They were the neighboring shepherds who were instructed to do so by angels. We often romanticize about these guys, like Linus did in Charlie Brown Christmas, but in reality they probably hadn’t bathed in days, were missing teeth and generally weren’t accepted by society. Nice audience.

When Jesus did get an acceptable audience, the Magi or the wise men as we call them, had to keep their visit to themselves. Yes, they did bring beautiful, expensive gifts, such as frankincense, gold and myrrh to the babe they believed to be their king. However, they were under strict orders from King Herod to report back to him after they found the babe. So, after they discovered Jesus an angel visited them and told them not to inform King Herod of Jesus’ whereabouts because he sought to kill Him.

This story even takes on more twists, no writer could have imagined. When Jesus was still yet a young child, Joseph received another dream from God telling him to flee to Egypt with Jesus and Mary because King Herod was killing all the babies where they were living. The rest of Jesus’ life for the most part was lived in obscurity till He was thirty when He began His unprecedented ministry which ended tragically with His death on the cross, but in so doing gave us life.

Ok, you say that story is ancient. Well, then here is another take. One of the best examples of how to keep Christmas comes right out of the classic, “A Christmas Carol” written by Charles Dickens.

Track with me as Ebenezer Scrooge’s view on Christmas evolves throughout the story.

Early in the story he tells his nephew, Fred, that he wants to be left alone to keep Christmas in his own way, to which his nephew replies, “but you don’t keep it at all.” To which Scrooge emphatically responds, “Then let me leave it alone then.’’ What I love about Scrooge’s nephew is he doesn’t allow his Uncle to dampen his take on Christmas but instead wishes him a Merry Christmas, which elicits a humbug from Scrooge.

Then in the middle of the story, the Ghost of Christmas Present, portrayed as a king, reveals what is truly wrong with Scrooge, when he confronts him with these words. “The child born in Bethlehem, he does not live in men’s hearts only one day of the year, but in all the days of the year. You have chosen not to seek him in your heart.” Which leaves Scrooge at a crossroads, whether to change or continue in his errant ways?

Fast forward to the end, when Scrooge decides he must live a completely different life by making mankind his business. The best scene of the whole story is at the very end when he picks up Tiny Tim and the narrator says this: “and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.”

So, in conclusion, this is my personal stance - I will keep Christ in Christmas and do my best to keep it well all the days of the year.

Swavel