Thanksgiving Video

Some of you asked about the great Thanksgiving video that Steve put together with the kids . . . you can check it out again - or for the first time - by clicking here

Thanksgiving & Football (& Futbol)

Yesterday Luke and I drove down to Austin (we're in Sherman w/Cindy's family) and compliments of my Dad went to the UT / A&M game . . .

It was fun and huge --it was the largest crowd EVER at a football game in the State of Texas - 98,621 stinkin' people!
(That's my Dad and Kai, my step-brother's son, with Luke & I)


Then we got up early this morning to get back to Dallas to watch Sarah & Laura's soccer games --- and they got rained out today :(
More futbol games tomorrow . . .

Thanks . . . With Anticipation!

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:4

There's a lot of room for thanks around here. For grace and hope. For family and friends. For incredibly abundant provision.

I've been thinking how real gratefulness should lead to generosity. God's been generous to us . . . SO THAT, we can be generous to others.

The last couple of days as we've been visiting friends and relatives it seems that everyone is talking about the economy. I hear a lot of concern and some fear.

A couple of weeks ago when I was talking to Tony Reyes who leads Mission 911 (an outreach to the homeless and hurting in Corpus) -- he expressed a deep hope for the resources to impact those in need. He told me that in hard times what many times happens is that the need multiplies (more homeless and hungry) and the support decreases. A double whammy.

What a great opportunity! I pray that in the coming months of need that we will double our support. That we will live wisely and generously, and give more away than ever before! It's in the deepest darkness that the light shines the brightest.

So instead of thanks mixed with anxiety or fear. Let's give thanks with anticipation! Anticipation for what God is going to do as we give ourselves to Him!

"We thank you, O God!
We give thanks because you are near.
People everywhere tell of your mighty miracles." Psalm 75:1

Baggage Handling

We're leaving in just a little while for Cindy's sister's in Sherman for Thanksgiving.

As the father and 'packer' I'm about to go through the same ritual that many men in this country have endured for decades.

This is some of what I'm expected to cram in a very small space in the car. I know that this doesn't include at least Luke's 'checked luggage' (and maybe more) . . . nor does it include the 6-8 'Carry Ons' per person! I should somehow charge extra for 'carry ons' as they seem to produce the greatest amount of stress.

I'm praying for little stress and much Jesus as I go pack the car now . . . I pray the same for you this week.

Post Thanksgiving Thoughts

Hope everyone made it back from Thanksgiving . . . I'm just getting over the travel hangover after the 8 hour drive from Frisco to Corpus on Saturday night. Got in at 1am and it was in the rain ALL the way! My shoulders are still a little tight.

I do think that Thanksgiving is the best holiday . . . all the food and family and football of Christmas, without the social and financial pressure of gifting and re-gifting.
Speaking of re-gifting how many of you will confess that you are going to re-gift something this Christmas?

Thanks to Wes, Jason and Gil for sharing your 'Thanks in All Things' yesterday in worship - that was awesome. I really like that worship phrase we came up with for Sunday 'Thanks in All Things.'

'Boys or The Pack on Thursday night?

Wow, It's Cold!

Drove to Sherman today to spend Thanksgiving with Cindy's sister and her family. About Waco we hit the cold front and the temperature dropped about 40 degrees! It's supposed to be an icy 33 degrees tonight. Great sleeping weather.

Spent 9 hours with the family in the car on Texas highways - we had a good trip. About half the State's population traveled with us . . . in our lane. One thought: If your gonna go 60 in a 70, then please stay out of the stinkin' middle lane! :)

Looking forward to sleeping late, turkey, hanging out with family, and watching the Cowboys tomorrow! Have a great Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Dreams

This week we are going to get spend Thanksgiving with one of Cindy's sisters and her family in Sherman (we also get to see Emily as she meets us there! :)

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

1) rest
2) hanging out with my family
3) watching Laura play soccer (she's also playing in a premier tourney in Dallas over the weekend)
4) pumpkin pie
5) Cowboys game
6) dressing & mashed potatoes


What are you looking forward to this week? Or, what Thanksgiving traditions does your family have?