There are lots of opinions about this, and lots of disagreement. After reading through several of these letters today, I can’t help it, I have to join in.

I want to first say that all in all I like Christmas card letters, especially the combination of pictures and letters. I like seeing kids grow up, hearing about new hobbies and adventures, and basic information that makes me feel closer to friends and re-connected to faraway friends.

Okay, that said, there are some other thoughts I have that do not exactly lift me into the Christmas spirit when I receive them. Here are three things that are sure to cause a reaction in me:

1. Letters that pretend that life is only good. It may have been a stellar year, with grades and job opportunities and vacations that could only have happened once a century, but this year happened to be it. I’m not saying we need to be negative, just more or less real. The year will come, trust me, when there seems to be nothing to write about but heartache and struggle. That has to be okay to share, but it needs to be done recognizing that in the midst of the darkness there are always rays of light… this is Christmas, after all.

2. Letters that presents a parent (usually the Dad) the chance to be clever at the kids’ expense. We get these every year, to varying degrees of intention and subtlety. Sure, we all can forgive the innocent gaff or mild tease easily enough. But there are those people, and most of the time its the same folks year after year, who cannot seem to avoid taking the Christmas letter to “joke” about their kids in a way that demeans, dismisses, or simply makes fun of them. Lay off, already. Life is tough enough for our kids. Even if the intent is to rebel against all those letters that makes each kid out to be All-State or the next Picasso, in the end they feel it, and it can’t help but sting. This is a great opportunity to honor them, and their trajectory. Bless, don’t curse, and let the world know how grateful and proud of them you are.

3. This is Christmas, so why is it so hard to remember that in our letters? The ones that are the toughest for me are those that have the token God/Christ accolades, but the rest of the letter is about kids, friends, fun, trips, money, sports, you name it. I have been especially struck this year by those letters from Christian leaders where, if the expected “Jesus is the reason for the season” paragraph was deleted, one would assume they were lawyers, sports agents, or Cubs fans.

You might be wondering where our example of the “appropriate” letter is. I don’t think I’ll share it with you… this is a blog. I’m just tossing out some ideas for you. (Besides, I’m pretty sure we have violated each of these pet peeves countless times over the years.)

(Chap Clark blog from 2008 that I have waited a year to re-post with a “little editing”)

Pie and Cake Auction

November 15
West Campus
6-8 pm
All Monies used to Support Students attending June 2010 trips to:
Roseland Christian Ministries (Chicago)
Mexico (new in 2010)
Quito Ecuador

Are there magazines out there for Christian teens? While you may not be able to find these magazines at your local newsstand or grocery store, there are several Christian teen magazines available to inspire you, guide you through tough issues, or add a little fun to your day.

1. Brio & Beyond

For Christian teen girls between the ages of 16 to 19, Brio & Beyond contains articles focused on strengthening their faith while living in today’s world. The article topics range from fashion and peer pressure to fitness and making faith-filled choices.

2. Breakaway Magazine

Breakaway magazine is all about encouraging Christian teen guys. Articles range from how to cope with peer pressure and sports to music and how to deal with girls.

3. Essential Connection Magazine

EC[/] magazine is dedicated to Christian teens looking to live out their faith on campus. It has a strong focus on issues and situations that Christian teens face on a daily basis and ways to remain stronger in their faith on non-Christian campuses.

4. STV Magazine

Published 9 times per year, STV Magazine is a ministry of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. It is designed to inspire Christian teen athletes to make an impact for Jesus Christ.

5. Ignite Your Faith

Formerly known as Campus Life magazine, Ignite Your Faith is written for Christian teens wanting to learn how to deal with the day-to-day issues they face at their schools. Article topics range from Christian activities and social issues to health and spiritual concerns.

6. Guideposts Sweet 16

Keeping it real, Guideposts Sweet 16 is about “Real teens. Real experiences. Real inspiration.” The Christian teen magazine covers true-live stories along with advice, celebrity news, fashion, and beauty.

7. Realiteen Magazine

A lot of Christian teens are really into music. Chock full of artist interviews, music reviews, and how music influences our faith, CCM is the must-have magazine for the music buff.

8. CCM Magazine

A lot of Christian teens are really into music. Chock full of artist interviews, music reviews, and how music influences our faith, CCM is the must-have magazine for the music buff.

9. Acquire the Fire Magazine

Looking for a magazine that also functions as a Christian teen devotional? Acquire the Fire offers a devotional that reads more like a magazine.

Maybe you saw the funny and engaging replay of the father and daughter at the baseball game in Philadelphia this week: Steve Monforto made a great catch on a foul ball, a dream he has had since he started attending Phillies games at three years old. He celebrated with the fans around him, then handed the ball to his 3-year-old daughter Emily. And Emily … threw the ball over the railing! How did Steve react?

 If you haven’t seen the video, go here to watch it.

As the video shows, Steve reacted with shock at first, but very quickly regained his composure, then simply smiled and gave Emily a long hug. “I think she was a little startled by the reaction,” he explained. “I just wanted her to know it was OK.” According to Marc Newman of mlb.com, this story demonstrates “the real glory of the game right there, a father hugging his little girl to assure her that she did nothing wrong.”

To Think About …

Dad, how would you respond in that situation? How do you respond when your child makes a mistake, does something careless, or even disobeys or defies you? Although the example above wasn’t over an earth-shattering issue, we would do well to imitate Steve’s response: regain our composure and be quick to forgive our kids. Even when it’s appropriate that our children go through tough consequences for their actions, they need to know that we have forgiven them. That’s an important part of the fathering fundamental of loving our children.

Forgiveness provides our children with the clean slate they need; it affirms our trust in them to do better the next time. They may even do things that seem “unforgivable,” but our love for them should quickly take over and motivate us to give them what they really need, and that usually isn’t a lecture or cursing or letting them know how much they have disappointed us, but comfort and instruction. When we extend our children forgiveness, they are much more likely to do the same for others—including us. Helping our children learn from their mistakes is still important, but it can come after they are assured of our love (and perhaps after we have cooled down a bit).

(Taken from fathers.com weekly)

The Curious Case of Forrest Gump – Watch more

I’m growing up and trying to be a bit more critical about our “academy” and how movies are honored. This year along with most I am always disappointed that many are rated R and thus not very appropriate for Middle School students. However, let me suggest that parents watch Slumdog Millionaire and then take their student back in order to watch this fabulous film together!

But per the video above. Regardless of Brad Pitt’s acting, when a film is that similar to a previous Academy Award winning Film (Forest Gump, 1994)…does it suprise anyone that it would be so fabulously supported? You let me know…

After first “approving” this commerical, NBC changed its mind, saying it wasn’t going to run advocacy ads during the big game. Imagine this pro-life commericial’s impact during the Superbowl…WOW. Not making a political Obama blog comment…simply testifying to solid commercial!

As many of you know I am a movie junkie. I can’t get enough. So I always go for the win win and get to be with students at the movies. Thus, I have to admit that Paul Blart was relatively a hit for me, my son JT, and the 25 students who packed the sold out theater with me on MKL Day on Monday. It wasn’t as funny as I thought but it did entertain. A solid PG movie that according to my son…”Had guns” in it!