I had great ambition for today. I was going to get up and go hunting, maybe kill a big doe… take my wife out for dinner (I may still do that one, if we can find a babysitter), and maybe even clean up the back room which has become a total disaster because of our remodeling project.

Well, that’s not going to happen today, my friends. Not today.

The dogs barked under our window… all… night… long. I think they finally stopped at daylight. Did the suddenly develop a fear of the dark? Was something lurking around the back yard that had them spooked? Not that I could see when I got up at 2am to investigate.

I couldn’t go back to sleep so I browsed around on the internet for a cheap price on a police scanner after I heard sirens pass the house. I don’t really need one, but times like that I’d really like to have an idea why there are sirens blaring down my isolated country road at 2am, and my dogs are barking.

Then I start thinking “I hope there isn’t an escaped convict hiding out on my outbuilding.”

“Nah, that’s not it… can’t be. Must be coyotes or a ‘possum walking through the back yard”

“But that doesn’t explain the sirens”

“SHUT UP!”

Finally got myself back to sleep, and managed to not even crack an eyelid until 10:30. Just a few short years ago, that would have been a victory. Now, I feel like I’ve wasted half a day.

When I got up, Ann was asleep on the sofa and Micah was playing in the floor and watching cartoons. Ann’s not feeling well and I’m just feeling lazy. Looks like i’ll spend another year without taking a deer. This deer hunting fiasco is becoming more pointless than my horrible golf game.

So, that’s it. It’s noon and I haven’t done crap.

Oh Brother Where Art Thou is on TV. I think I’ll watch that. That’s doing something, right?

I’m not a worship leader. It’s just not where my talent lies.

I struggled through a 4 song set and managed to not get booed off the stage. I had a great band, the other singers did great, and I don’t think I sucked too bad at playing guitar, but (when I could hear myself, which wasn’t much) I don’t think I sang one single note on key.

It didn’t do loads for my self-confidence, that’s for sure!

Anyway, I filled in. I did what was asked of me the best I could do it, and I lived through it.

This was a really awesome Christmas. It seemed way too short, but it’s probably the best Christmas in my adult life.

Our family really didn’t focus on gifts and stuff this year. We cut way back on gifts and it honestly made things so much more fun because we weren’t stressed about making sure we had something equal for everyone. We did gifts for families and a small gift for the kids so they would have something to play with so the adults could talk. We’ve had such a strange year between all of us: I’ve changed jobs, my Sis doesn’t have the group home anymore (I think that was this year… either way it is a really great thing!) and my Brother has moved up in his job. This is Dad’s first full year as a full-time pastor, and possibly the most important to me: Micah is actually old enough to enjoy Christmas this year.

Last year, Micah was so small that he really didn’t get excited about his gifts . This year seeing him round the corner in his little pajamas and say “THAT’S COOL!” when he saw his car and his Mickey Mouse was one of the best things a Dad can have. He’s growing so fast and it’s just so awesome to see how much he has changed in one short year.

Being on-call for the first time at this job wasn’t so bad, even though it kinda sucked that it was during Christmas. It did have one benefit: We had Ann’s family out to our place for Christmas so that I could be close to my computer and closer to work should I need to go back in to fix something. It was nice to be able to show off our newly remodeled living room, and being able to sit in my recliner to open gifts, and to be able to relax afterward instead of having to worry about driving home.

Because I was on-call and because Micah wouldn’t be able to sit still long enough, we didn’t go to Midnight Mass with Ann’s mom. I’m not Catholic, and Ann isn’t anymore, but it is still one of the more beautiful church services you could ever attend.

Tonight we wrapped up Christmas by having some friends over to visit. Initially, we wanted to have them over for Christmas dinner because they thought they were not going to be able to go home and see their families. It worked out that they did get to make a trip home, but gladly we were still able to have them over and enjoy a great meal and some good fun.

All in all, it’s been a great Christmas, and a great year.

With my family Christmas stuff half over, I guess I am in as much of a “Christmas mood” as i’m going to get. It’s not that i’m NOT in a christmas mood, it’s just that it’s hard to do because I am spoiled.

That’s right. I’m spoiled rotten.

In all my previous jobs, I had a surplus of vacation by this time every year and I would often take off the Monday before Christmas and not come back until sometime in the first week of January. Well, this year with a new job that just isn’t possible. The result: I’m having a hard time feeling Christmas-y.

Yes, despite the family get-togethers, the week of rehearsals for a Christmas play, and the fact that I have a 7 foot tall lighted tree in my house, I just can’t seem to get it together.

This year I get 2 days off, and that comes out of my vacation time when I actually get it in 3 more months. Not that I am complaining about my job. So far, this is probably the best job I have had. It only narrowly beats out Little Rock by one factor: I’m close to home.

Either way,  don’t misinterpret my thoughts here. I have a great family, so much to be thankful for and I really love Christmas. Just hard to break that lazy, overeating, don’t-go-to-work-for-a-month mentality.

Now where were those Christmas goodies again?

I found this and it really speaks something that so many worship team members need to hear, myself included. It’s always to good to be reminded of why we do what we do.

1. You are not Singing or Playing Because You are Good: You have been given this opportunity by God because He is good. His grace has allowed you to represent Him in spite of your imperfections. Eph. 2:4-10; Titus 3:5.

2. Being Seen or Recognized is not Your Ultimate Goal: God always sees you and recognizes you. Our ultimate goal is for Christ to be seen. John 3:30.

3. God is a God of Order, not Confusion: You will be expected to be punctual, professional, accountable, dependable, and flexible according to the needs of this ministry. Structure and order are essentials to giving our best to God. I Cor. 14:40; Rom. 12:11.

4. Your Music will not be What Determines Your Success: Millions of people can produce great music. God once made a donkey talk! Your success will be dependent only on your love for God, people, and each other. The Biblical definition of greatness is servant-hood: I John 3:23; John 13:1-17; Phil.1:9-11.

5. Participation in this Ministry is not a Substitute for Bible Study, Tithing, or Serving as God Leads in other Necessary Functions of the Church: Your personal spiritual growth depends on your relationship with a good church. Your ongoing fellowship, sacrificial giving and consistent Bible study will enable you to properly relate and contribute to the movement and ministry of this church. Hebrews 10:24-25.

6. Your Participation in this Ministry Makes You a Minister: People will look to you for advice and example. If you lead them astray by word or deed, you will be held responsible for their sin. If you lead them to Jesus, he will reward you. There is no in-between. Also, remain mindful that you are involved in spiritual warfare. I Cor. 15:33, 58; II Cor. 4: 1-6; I Cor 1:23; Ezekiel 33:6; Eph. 6:12; I Thess. 5:22.

7. You are not the Stars: The star of this ministry is Jesus Christ. When you lose sight of that fact, you become a liability to the group. II Cor. 4:5; Col. 1:18

8. God Deserves Our Best: God gave His best through Christ, and everything He does is perfect. We therefore show our appreciation by giving our best back to Him. Specifically, this means getting proper rest, rehearsing faithfully, dressing appropriately, speaking intelligently, and anything else that will represent Him properly. Genesis 4:4-5; Matt. 5:16.

9. Confess Your Faults: Nobody is perfect. No need to make lame excuses. If you choose to stay away from your commitment because of something other than a legitimate reason, ask God to give you the inner strength to follow through, even when it’s hard; OR come back when you can stick with it. Let someone know when you have a real problem, and let’s all pray about it. We are all in this together. James 5:16.

10. Support Your Leaders: ____________ and __________ are the leaders of this ministry under our Pastor. Many of you are leaders in other avenues of life. Good leaders have learned to be good followers. God has given them talent and vision. You are responsible for constructively supporting them. If you feel that this is no longer possible, please be Christian and mature enough to let them know directly. Also, when you have a concern, criticism, or complaint, please extend the same courtesy of direct honest communication. I Tim. 2:1-3.

Adapted by Michael Adler for SMBC Music & Worship from a memo written by evangelist Buster Soaries to the members of the BeBe and CeCe Winans touring group.