From the Inside Out

I saw this on Twitter and just had to share it because it’s brilliant. Louis Gray depicts the Christmas Story, as told through Twitter. Those of you who are tweeters will love it! To see the original, visit louisgray.com.

JosephOfGalilee: AFK for a bit w/@MaryofNazareth. Headed to Bethlehem. #caesartax

JosephOfGalilee: @MaryofNazareth says no baby tonight. But can’t be long now.

MaryofNazareth: Off to Bethlehem! Hope we find a good inn. @JosephOfGalilee waited until last minute. #caesartax

MaryofNazareth: Bethlehem is a zoo. @JosephOfGalilee says @InnKeeper1 claimed “no room”. Uh-oh.

JosephOfGalilee: No room at the inn. @InnKeeper1 and @InnKeeper2 both. Kill me now. @MaryofNazareth not looking happy.

MaryofNazareth: RT: @JosephOfGalilee No room at the inn. @InnKeeper1 and @InnKeeper2 both. Kill me now. **Anyone???** #caesartax

JosephOfGalilee: @InnKeeper3 says ‘no room’, but to go to a stable. Like animals. @MaryofNazareth beside herself.

MaryofNazareth: Now at a stable. Surrounded by animals. Baby is coming. If not for baby, I wouldn’t even talk to @JosephOfGalilee right now.

JosephOfGalilee: Baby on its way!

JosephOfGalilee: Baby has arrived! @MaryofNazareth says its name is Jesus!

JosephOfGalilee: Jesus now wrapped in cloth, placed in manger. @MaryofNazareth very tired.

Sheepmaster: WHOA. Just got visit by an angel. Said baby was born in Bethlehem. Going to check this out with @ShepherdDude and @Flockof240.

Flockof240: RT: @Sheepmaster: WHOA. Just got visit by an angel. Said baby was born in Bethlehem. Going to check this out.

ShepherdDude: @Sheepmaster @Flock240 that was wild. And sheep slept right through it!!! LOL

WiseOne: Big star looks to have arrived. @WiseTwo and @WiseThree, the night we were waiting for is here! A new king! #bigstar

WiseThree: RT: @WiseOne: Big star looks to have arrived. The night we were waiting for! #bigstar

WiseTwo: On my way to meet up with @WiseOne and @WiseThree. Bringing myrrh. #bigstar

MaryofNazareth: Jesus has arrived! Tired.

MaryofNazareth: Shepherds coming to the stable? What now? @JosephOfGalilee going to see.

ShepherdDude: With @Flockof240 @Sheepmaster. On way to stable in Bethlehem after visit from an angel. Crazy!

Sheepmaster: Stable is in sight. Nervous.

JosephOfGalilee: Shepherds say they saw an angel and came to see baby Jesus. @Flockof240 seems nice.

WiseThree: Looking to meet new king. First will see @KingHerod with @WiseTwo and @WiseOne to see if star prophecy was right. #bigstar

WiseTwo: @WiseThree and @WiseOne are here. @WiseOne brought gold and @WiseThree has frankincense. Hope my myrrh is ok. #bigstar

WiseOne: Meeting with @KingHerod went okay. Doesn’t know of new king but asked us to report back. Back on the trail with @WiseTwo and @WiseThree. #bigstar

WiseTwo: Star in the East is bigger than I have ever seen. @WiseOne @WiseThree #bigstar

JosephOfGalilee: More visitors on their way. Three this time. @Flockof240 @ShepherdDude and @Sheepmaster with @MaryofNazareth and Jesus.

JosephOfGalilee: This night is nuts. #caesartax

WiseThree: Met @JosephOfGalilee and @MaryofNazareth. Gave gifts to the baby king at stable. Leaving now.

Flockof240: Just saw three magi and the child who would be king. Long night. Headed back to pasture.

JosephOfGalilee: The visitors said they were magi. Brought incredible gifts. @MaryofNazareth and I finally calling it a day. What a day.

MaryofNazareth: @JosephOfGalilee says we have to go. Can’t tell you more now. @FatherOfJoseph @MotherofMary

It’s a busy time of year. Some people are rushing to the malls buying last minute Christmas gifts, while others are preparing to travel. It doesn’t matter whether you are packing suitcases for a flight, making sure the kids won’t be bored on that long road trip, frantically wrapping presents, getting the house ready for company, or preparing the Christmas day feast, it’s chaos!

It recently struck me that Mary and Joseph may have experienced similar chaos in their lives before the birth of Jesus. They were forced to travel to Bethlehem so they could register for the census. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. Mary was pregnant, expecting her first child. The baby was due soon. It was no time to travel. Regardless, they had to embark on a week-long journey to another town. They must have been busy stocking up for the journey, rushing to buy things they needed for the trip, and packing — all while preparing for the birth of their son. It was chaos!

Upon arriving, they learned that all of the inns were full. Imagine being nine months pregnant and seeing only “no vacancy” signs posted at your destination city! I can’t imagine how concerned Mary and Joseph must have been when they were told the only place to take shelter was in a barn. There would be no bed, no privacy, and no comfort offered to them while in a dirty stable where animals were housed. I’m sure they were hoping the baby wouldn’t come while they were there. It couldn’t have been the experience Mary had dreamed about when imagining the miraculous birth of her first son. Modern women wouldn’t dream of having a child in those harsh conditions.

However, the baby had plans of his own. He had a prophecy to fulfill, and he wouldn’t wait for them to return to Nazareth. I can’t imagine how chaotic it must have been that night as Mary struggled to give birth far away from her home, in a strange place, in the middle of a barn. It had to be a scary experience for her and her husband, much different from what we see depicted in the peaceful, serene nativity scenes today. She had to question why: why now, why here, why like this?

It doesn’t seem to make sense, but in the middle of her chaos and confusion, something beautiful was born. In that moment when Jesus took his first breath, Mary must have felt that it was worth it all. From chaos came beauty and perfection.

During this Christmas season, you may be experiencing your own chaos. It may be uncomfortable. It may not be what you expected or what you’d desired, but take heart. Don’t be anxious; dont worry. God has His own plans, and maybe, just maybe He’s getting ready to deliver beauty in the midst of your chaos.

I’m a big fan of 24, the television show starring Keifer Sutherland, so when I saw this I just had to share it. It’s a video of Jack Bauer interrogating Santa. Hilarious!

The real show finally comes back in January, and I can’t wait! If you don’t watch it, you should. Go buy the season one DVD; it’d be a great gift for Christmas!

Each time I travel to Italy there’s one thing I seek out. The trip just isn’t the same without it. Gelato, Italy’s regional variant of ice cream, is a special treat I enjoy as much as I can while I’m there. I experienced gelato for the first time while in Rome. There were two shops conveniently located just outside the steps of our hotel. Each night when we would return from a fun-filled day of sightseeing, we’d grab a scoop, sit down, and gaze at the Pantheon.

An evening with the best companion, the best ice cream, and the best view = priceless!

Gelato differs from the ice cream we eat in the US. The flavors are richer, there is less fat, more sugar, and it has a different texture. It’s not just good; it’s great! Luckily, you don’t have to travel all the way to Italy to experience some for yourself. Paciugo serves authentic Italian gelato that’s made fresh daily in over 20 stores across the nation.

After apprenticing at a four-generation gelateria, the owners of Paciugo moved from Turin, Italy and started their first gelato cafè in Dallas in 2000. I’m not sure why anyone would want to move from Turin to Dallas, but I’m glad they did because I really enjoy having a little taste of Italy here in the US. The gelato doesn’t seem to be quite as good as the original, it’s pretty darn close. Either that, or I just think everything tastes better in Italy…haha!

Regardless, if you haven’t had a taste of gelato, you should check it out. Take a break from the frantic Christmas shopping this weekend, and give yourself a little treat. And, if you are near the Frisco location, take advantage of these special offers for some free gelato through Dec. 20th. Enjoy!

It’s been a few years since my piano was tuned. To keep it properly maintained, it should be tuned twice a year. I play it regularly, but I really didn’t notice how bad it had become until I heard the difference tonight. My Dad came to my house and tuned it, bringing back the glowing tonal quality it had begun to lose. The sound is now richer, more true, beautiful.

As I was enjoying the music, I thought about the importance of tuning — it’s not only significant for musical instruments, but it’s also important in our own lives. As we go through life, outside influences knock against us, throwing us off pitch. We listen to the voices of the media, absorb the opinions of the world, and feel that we’re pretty much in tune with those around us.

It’s not until we commune with our heavenly Father that we realize just how wrong we are. The farther we get away from Him, the more out of tune we can become. That’s why it’s important to keep up with the proper maintenance activities — going to church, reading the Bible, and taking time to pray.

God’s word, the Bible, is like a tuning fork. It gives us the proper pitch to which we can align our lives and our priorities. Prayer and inspired preaching help ensure we are in tune with God and not the world.

So, if it’s been a while since you’ve had a “tune up,” head over to your church this Sunday or dust off your Bible and delve into some of the New Testament passages where you can read the teachings of Jesus. It’s the best way to regain the proper pitch in your life.