I wonder if I’ve treated God’s love as paramount to my relationships with God and others, but failed to fully enjoy it?  A brief glance at a piece of beautiful art, a rushed taste of world-class cuisine, or a muffled hearing of a great piece of music may point to the value of those things, but not necessarily the enjoyment of them.   But, when fully taken in, appreciated, and allowed to affect our imaginations, affections, and attitudes we participate in the creator’s intentions.

Ah, the sounds of wedding bells are in the air with this month’s Wedding & Marriage Issue of River Region’s Journey! I’ve been married to my wife going on 35 years. To this day I know that, other than trusting Jesus as my Savior, it was the best decision I ever made.

 Imagine the scene. Down one point with only a few seconds left, the basketball player stands at the free throw line ready to shoot. Players are on either side of the foul lines, waiting, crouching, ready to take the rebound if there is one. The crowd quiets. Cheerleaders wait in anticipation. The game has come down to this one point. Years of practice and conditioning have converged into a moment and for one player, and everything rests on his shoulders.

Of all the music heard on the radio around Christmas, I have always thought John Lennon’s “So This is Christmas” to be one of the more unusual songs of the season.  Written as a protest song to the Vietnam War, Lennon sought to elaborate upon the themes of social unity and peaceful change enacted through personal accountability and empowerment, trying to convey optimism while avoiding the sentimentality that he felt often characterized music of the holiday season.