For the first week of advent we chose Angels, From The Realms of Glory. I like this carol a lot. I am really looking forward to the advent season and all of the music that we get to enjoy. The version below is not the best one. But it will at least give you an idea of the song.
John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
Today I am thankful for salvation: the moment when Jesus' blood covered over all of my sin and I became an heir of the father. Today I am thankful for sanctification: the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in my life by which I am able to accomplish the good works that God prepared beforehand. Both of these are free gifts from God, bought through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, given to me freely due in no part to anything that I have done or will do.
This is what yesterday's sermon at church was all about. You can read, listen to or watch it here.
Gregg and Allison arrived yesterday and so our holiday festivities begin. It has been great to have them. Gregg built a new Lego set with the boys this morning and we've been watching some college football all day. It's almost time for dinner: pulled pork barbecue sandwiches. More updates later this week.
After a quiet week at the Gammons' house we come to the days before Thanksgiving. This season brings with it some traditions. Amanda has hung the "I'm thankful for . . ." banner on the wall to be filled in; the turkey salt and pepper shakers are on the table; and we turn to a hymn of thanksgiving. Gregg and Allison come this Saturday for the week before Thanksgiving, so it seems like the holiday is right around the corner. I do love this time of year. I love the way that it turns my heart back toward all of the many things that I AM thankful for. Join us in learning this hymn. I am sure we'll sing it at our church. I hope you get the chance to as well.
Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home; All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin. God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied; Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
What a great idea! For the next ten months, Covenant Life Church, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is going to be memorizing ten great hymns of the faith. From their website, they explain the reason for doing this.
"We’re doing this project because we want to benefit not only from the songs written in our lifetime, but also from hymns that have served the people of God for generations and will endure long after we’re gone. They are time-tested and true. They speak to every circumstance of life and point us to the wisdom, love and power of our gracious God and Savior."
The best part is that you can join them. They have put up an album of these hymns on Noisetrade.com (a site I've mentioned before.) I'm listening to it now and the arrangements are new but not annoying. The list is pretty traditional. You might not know "Before The Throne". It is one that our church does quite a bit though and it is a great one. Click on the link below and it will take you to the download. Tell 5 friends or just pay what you want. Feel free to use my e-mail addresses.
This past weekend we got out of dodge and headed to Chicago. We had a great time. On Saturday we went to the Jelly Belly factory in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. We did the tour and got some free Jelly Belly jelly beans. My highlight was getting the Bean Boozled pack. They have some really gross flavors mixed in with normal flavors. I'll be bringing these to Alpena for Christmas. My favorite weird flavor is toothpaste. The worst one was black pepper. It was terrible.
Amanda's cousins live right across the street so we did lunch with them and hung out at theirplace for a while. Then we headed to Chicago to stay with Amanda's grandma. On Sunday we headed over to Amanda's aunt and uncle's house for some Chicago style pizza. I love this pie. I didn't like it at first, but I am definitely a convert. On Monday we got up and went to the Shedd Aquarium. It was a free day, which was perfect. We stayed about two hours and then didn't feel guilty about leaving. Caleb loved the aquarium and would have stayed much longer. Everyone else was done. My favorite things at the aquarium were the sea dragon and watching Caleb sit for about 15 minutes and listen to the worker talk about a tortise.
The weekend was capped off by our meal at the Norske Nook. Didn't we have the fun!
