Songs & Parables

One of my favorite Christian radio stations starts playing Christmas music the week of Thanksgiving & when they first started doing that it really annoyed me. I mean, there are only a certain number of Christmas songs & I'd already heard them all, right? Well, it's grown on me because now I have some favorite versions of those classic songs. I'd like to share them with you... 1) Silent Night - Mercy Me w/ Amy Grant. Probably my favorite right now. It's got a country rock feel to it. In fact, the whole album, Mercy Me-The Christmas Sessions, is pretty darn good. 2) Winter Wonderland - Avalon. This one has a big band type of feel. Really cool. 3) The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - Alvin, Simon & Theodore. I remember listening to this on the record player @ Grandma Weaver's house. The memory is why I like it so much. That & the fact that my little boys like it now too! 4) I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas - Gayla Peevey. This one was recorded back in the 40s or 50s I think. (Don't quote me on that!) It is just too cute & old-fashioned & fun to sing along with! Nate just loves this one. 5) Toy Packaging - Sara Groves. This is from her brand new Christmas album, O Holy Night. If you have ever had to open children's toys within the last 10-15 years you will completely relate to this song. So funny! * if you Google "Toy Packaging by Sara Groves" you can download the song for free. Today on Midday Connection, which is my favorite Christian radio program, Tim Keller was being interviewed on his new book, The Prodigal God. Wow. He studies the Bible parable of the prodigal son but points you in a direction that you may never have associated with it. There were 2 things that stood out to me from this program: 1) You cannot break commandments 2-10 without first breaking #1. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" Think about it. One commandment says thou shalt not lie. When you lie, you are pretty much making your pride your idol. Relate that to the others & see what happens. 2) The prodigal son tends to be the focus of the whole parable but in fact, it's only half of it. Obviously, he squanders away everything & lives in flagrant sin. It's not hard to see what's going on. He broke the rules. Period. He's separated from God. But have you ever thought that you could be following the rules to a "T" & still be separated from God? That we do things b/c that's what Christians are supposed to do? Now, think about how the parable ends.The wayward son is welcomed home with open arms & he chooses to join in the party his father throws for him. He has done nothing to deserve it but he accepts it b/c his father wants him to. But what does the elder brother do? He complains that he has done everything expected of him & refuses to join in. Don't you think the father would have lavished as much on the elder brother if he had just wanted to be with his father? As a parent, I like it when my boys do the things they are supposed to, you know, like picking up their toys, being nice to each other, cleaning their plates, etc. Those are all very important things in keeping order in life. But you know what I love? I absolutely melt when they climb onto my lap, hug my neck, look me in the eye & say "I wuv you mom". Ah, I could go on, but I am neither theologian nor wordsmith (is that a word?) so I will leave it at that. If you'd like to hear the interview about this parable, go to www.middayconnection.org & click on past programs (or archives) - The Prodigal God. It will be worth your while.