Christmas Tips for Dads
Mark Driscoll gives 16 Daddy Christmas Tips in this article on the Resurgence blog -
’Tis the season for Dad to drop the holiday ball, stress out as the money is being spent for presents, and miss yet another providential opportunity to lovingly lead his family. So, this blog is intended to help dads not fall into the same old rut of holiday humdrum, sitting on the couch watching football and eating carbs, but rather intentionally plan out the upcoming holiday season. Our children grow quickly and if we miss the sacred moments God opens up for us to connect with and bless our families, everyone suffers and we set in motion generations of missed opportunity.
Dad needs…
- a plan for the holidays to ensure his family is loved and memories are made. Dad, what’s your plan?
- to check the local guides for what’s going on to make fun holiday plans for the family. In Seattle it’s here.
- to carve out time for sacred events and experiences to build family traditions that are fun and point to Jesus. Dad, is your calendar ready for December?
- to not let the stress of the holidays, including money, cause him to be grumpy with Mom or the kids. Dad, how’s your joy?
- to give experiences and not just gifts. Dad, what special memories can you make this holiday season?
- to manage the extended family and friends during the holidays. Dad, who or what do you need to say “no” to?
- to ensure his family is giving generously during the holidays. Dad, who in need is your family going to adopt and bless?
- to schedule a big Christmas daddy date with his daughter. Dad, what’s your big plan for the fancy daddy date?
- to schedule guy time with his son. Dad, what are you and your son going to do that is active, outdoors, and fun?
- to help Mom get the house decorated. Dad, are you really a big help to Mom with getting things ready?
- to ensure some holiday smells and sounds. Dad, is Christmas music on the iPod, is the tree up, and can you smell cookies and cider in your house?
- to snuggle up and watch some fun shows with the kids, especially the little ones. Dad, is the DVR set?
- to take the family on a drive to see Christmas lights while listening to music and sipping cider. Dad, is it mapped out?
- to help Mom get the kids’ rooms decorated. Dad, do the little kids get lights or a small tree in their room?
- to read about Jesus and pray over his kids. Dad, how’s your pastoral work going with each of your kids?
- to repent of being lazy, selfish, grumpy, or just dumping the holidays on Mom. Dad, are you a servant like Jesus to your family?
Weekend Services
We had a great weekend of celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On Friday night we gathered for a time of worship, testimony, communion, and contemplation of the fact that our sins killed Jesus. Besides the nasty buzz we were getting from our sound system and some other logistical issues (lights going on and off when I wanted it dark the whole time) we had an awesome service that left us thinking about how wicked we are but how perfectly God loves us and how thankful we should be that we don’t have to face this righteous wrath.
On Sunday we had two services and both of them were really full. We began the services with this video and then incorporated a one man drama (the life of Peter) into worship. The drama written by our worship leader, Stewart White, and performed by a man named Blaine Jensen, from church, was abosolutely phenomenal. I then taught a very pointed and direct message from Acts 2…I probably offended some people but I cannot stand in front of all of those unbelievers and not deliver a candid call for salvation.
I know of at least one lady, who was previously a Mormon, who received Jesus yesterday. I didn’t do a formal altar call yesterday but I did clearly call people to respond to the gospel and I hope that many did.
If you would like to listen to either or both of these messages they are available for download or streaming in the media player on the home page of this blog.
Candle Wax Debacle
Last night we had an amazing Christmas Eve Service (even though we came in to find the roof leaking just above the sound booth). The building was packed…we had a wonderful time of worship and singing Christmas songs, I taught a short message from Luke 2:36-38 (4 characteristics from the life of Anna), and then we closed with candle lighting and singing Evan Wickham’s song “Halalujah Jesus”
It was really cool to look out at the congregation and see all those candles shining in the dark but I was unprepared for the mess these little suckers would make 
As some of you know we just bought brand new chairs for our sanctuary…now they are brand new chairs adorned with candle wax. We also have a remolded building that is less than a year old…now we have new carpet with huge splotches of white wax to add some character.
Actually I’ve heard there are some simple remedies to wax removal…either freezing it with ice until it hardens and crumbles or heating it with an iron and soaking it up with a paper sack are the most recommended solutions.
Not ideal especially for the folks who clean the church but we’ll get it cleaned up and research some alternatives for candle light for next year.
It does prove that you can have small disasters like these and still have a great service…everything doesn’t have to go perfectly for the Lord to bless His people. I’m continuing to learn this principle maybe one day it will REALLY sink in.
Have a Merry Christmas!
