“O night when Christ was born”. The ultimate reason for celebration. “Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace”. God sent His own Son to pay the price, in full, for our sins. The greatest gift.
December 1999. I hear a Christmas song like no other on WAAF, 107.3 out of Boston. I call the station to find out what the song was and who played it. It’s Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and the song is Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24. I have been hooked ever since.
I am a poor boy too. I have no gift to bring. That is fit to give our King. So, I will do my best for Him. Oh, to get a smile from the King, now that would be a thing. Lord, at thy birth. Reverence, respect. So, to honor Him. That is how I see the Little Drummer Boy.
I honestly do believe that the world would be a much better place if we all experienced a lot more silent nights. Nights that are distraction free, and absent of our insane modern day schedules. Nights full of reverence, reflection, pondering, fun, but not entertainment, and allowing the creative mind to work like it did when we were kids. Or at least when our parents were kids.
Humble beginnings. Place of birth does not define your future, but it may enhance it. Often times the greatest leaders don’t wander too far from the very common. The humble. The meek. “Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay, Close by me forever, And love me I pray”.
Maybe it was the first time that I ever heard a Christmas song that didn’t sound like the rest of the Christmas songs that I knew, but it has stuck with me ever since. There was a second time too, but we’ll get to that on song #2. I heard this song on the radio and had to know who they were, and where could we get a copy of the song.
Whether you are stuck in an attic watching old family movies with Clark Griswold, or sitting by a cozy fire with your family, or even taking a walk in the snow, there is definitely something special about that spirit of Christmas.
To adore: 1) to worship or honor as a deity or as divine. 2) to regard with loving admiration and devotion. 3) to be very fond of. Oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. I think that really is all that needs to be said. We adore all kinds of things and a lot of them don’t matter much in the big picture. But then there is One that is bigger than the picture. Oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Think about this. In 1719, Isaac Watts wrote the English Christmas carol, Joy to the world. The song is based on Psalm 98 from the Old Testament, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. That is a reason for joy, and the reason for this season. The song is more than 300 years old, and the joy is still available to any and all.
Yesterday we asked folks to please come home for Christmas. Today we recognize the fact that some folks might think that their holiday will be a blue Christmas. Especially if that somebody doesn’t come home for Christmas. But I might give you an answer (further down the page) to remedy a blue Christmas too.
On the 11th day of Christmas Songs, I hope that I have given everyone enough time to get home for Christmas. I think that just about everyone has heard some version of this song somewhere, even if you didn’t want to. I have shared with you a few versions that I like. There are a lot of different recordings of this song. Check these ones out.
On the 12th day of Christmas Songs, I have chosen a song from a short movie that I found to be tremendous. The short movie is, The Snowman (1982) It’s a great little movie where moving pictures are only enhanced by our own imaginations.
On the 13th day of Christmas Songs, I thought I would have a little fun. The Whoville Medley isn’t all that long but it’s a fun song from my favorite band.
On the 14th day of Christmas Songs, we get right to the point. We get right to the reason. I can only imagine the perspective of the first Christmas as taken in from the heavens. As a parent it makes me hurt to think of sending my son for such a fate.
It’s Christmas time. It’s December. It is another one of my favorite times of the year. But, Christmas time, wow! I mean, among all of the other reasons to celebrate the Christmas holiday, there is also the music. The Christmas songs. So many of them in celebration of the reason for the season.
Part one is here.
This year, I was fortunate enough to get to the Boston show too. I haven’t even looked at those photos yet. Every time I go back to these pictures from Manchester, I just can’t wait to see these folks again, and to get lost in each and every spectacular moment found in each show.
I heard that today is Chris Caffery Friday. It just so happens that I have a few photos of Chris from this year’s show. Here are a few pictures of Chris from the Manchester, NH show…
Here are 10 more photos from the Manchester, NH show on November 28th.
If you know me, you know that TSO, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, has become synonymous with my Christmas season over the years. Maybe you have read one, several, or even, all, of the posts I have shared here regarding TSO over the last 4+ years. There have been many. Maybe this is the first time you’ve seen anything from here. Either way, the group and I go way back; more than 16 years back.
For the first time in 16 years of seeing Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert, I actually took a lot of pictures at the show this year. I usually take some pictures, but not too many. Maybe…
I will be adding more posts with pictures from the TSO concert in Manchester, NH throughout the month of December. Merry Christmas. Enjoy.
I wondered from the other room, why was the TV turned up so loud. I walked into the family room and this is what I saw… Maybe I just need to turn up the heat.
Honestly, my birthday, December 23rd, is my favorite day of the year, besides Christmas Day. Mostly the reason is not about me, but about celebrating my birthday with family and friends while everyone is so…
I guess we could detach ourselves and say, to each, their own Then isn’t it the folks furthest removed that cast the first stone To obsess on anything is not the answer, even…
I wasn’t where I’ve grown accustomed to, but I was there On stage these pros all showed up, but do they really care As usual I polled those around me, some had, others new I smiled…
This past Saturday we went to a friend’s house in Bow, NH to get our Christmas Tree. We got the tree in exchange for some help with other trees and the promise of some future…
There’s a certain part of me that I hope never goes away. As a matter of fact, I wish it would continue to grow so that I may more effectively share it with others for the remainder of my days. I am talking about the feeling of Christmas morning, the appreciation of the season, the reason for Christmas, and my love for the old Christmas carols. Yes, even in my 40’s I still get excited about Christmas, excited about the season, about the old, and about the new. It’s a wonderful time of the year, and if I never got another physical present for Christmas, I’d still be happy and blessed if I could just experience the songs, the sounds, the gathering of loved ones, and of course my yearly visit with my old friends of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Theodore and Jacqueline each enjoy a toasted cheese sandwich while relaxing on their new comfy chairs, the morning after Christmas.