Here’s a fun group activity a friend sent to me that you might enjoy using with the family over the Christmas holiday. The goal is to see who can identify the real song title from this list of twenty-one hints. You could divide the guests or family members into two teams or simply make it every person for him or her self. Maybe sweeten the pot with a White Elephant gift for the person or team who gets the most correct answers.
Doctor’s Order: No PlayStation
Jean and I were at a birthday party last week. While we dined with the adults, the boys were in another room with their peers enjoying kid-friendly food and games. One of the after dinner activities for the children was playing with a Wii (pronounced “We”). That’s the hot new video game console offered by Nintendo. As I learned, what sets Wii apart from other video games is a wireless controller that senses motion. This allows the gamers’ hand movements to interact with the on-screen action.
Eating Humble Pie
Last year my family was living in a community just around the corner from Focus on the Family. I remember one particular evening Jean needed to go shopping after dinner. I offered to hang out with the boys while she ran errands. I should point out it was already dark by the time Jean backed the minivan out of the driveway . . . right into our neighbor’s car across the street.
Jean wasn’t distracted or in a hurry.
Pastor to Pastor Hotline
There are five unsung heroes at Focus on the Family whom I’d like to extend a hardy “Well done!” These men are the backbone behind the Pastoral Care Hotline. Day after day, Roger Charman, John Barner, George Stahnke, Ralph Kelly, and Alex Person field phone calls from pastors who are in crisis. They don’t seek the limelight, just an opportunity to bear the burdens fellow pastors carry.
Here are three short examples of the kind of situations these men address.
Counting My Blessings
How was your Thanksgiving? Let me tell you about Thanksgiving at the Daly’s household. In some ways it was quite miserable – as you’ll see in a moment. On the other hand, I came away with a fresh reminder of what’s really important. Here’s what happened. In preparation for Thanksgiving last week, Jean worked hard and long preparing a mountain of fixings to compliment the turkey. She cleaned the house and made sure everything was in order in anticipation of some fifteen guests.
This Thanksgiving
This Thursday, with the aroma of baked bread and a freshly roasted turkey filling the air, our family will sit down to dinner for a meal shared by millions of other grateful Americans. I can’t wait! One of our traditions is to take turns sharing something that we’re thankful for before digging into the feast. I’m sure we’re not the only family who recites what God has done in the past twelve months. This year, however, I plan to take that tradition to the next level.
Kids ‘R Us
My mother died when I was nine. My dad died when I was twelve. With both parents gone, I became an orphan back in elementary school. Which is why I relate so closely to the deep longing orphans have for a family where they can belong; for a place to call home.
No wonder my heart goes out to the 143 million orphans worldwide who hunger for the chance to call someone “Mom” and “Dad” and to feel safe in their care.
California Screamin’
When the Mamas & the Papas recorded California Dreamin’ in 1963, I’m sure they never envisioned a heart-stopping roller coaster ride inspired by their song. Sure enough, the engineers at Walt Disney Imagineering drew inspiration from that Sixties classic when they built California Screamin’ at Disneyland, the 5th longest roller coaster ride in the world.
Talk about built for speed, this baby launches guests into hyperspace from zero to 55 miles per hour in just four seconds.
Don’t Let it Hurt
As a senior in high school, I was heavily invested in football. I punished my body through many a long practice to become the starting quarterback on the team. In my view there was no such thing as half-excellence. I pushed myself to be at the top of my game–and recruiters for several big-time 1A colleges took notice. I received letters of interest from the University of Las Vegas and Texas Christian University among others.
My plan was to take a scholarship from one of the colleges courting me and then move on to play in the NFL.
Behind Bella
When was the last time you saw a movie at the theater with a pro-life theme? If you’re having trouble thinking of one, join the crowd. With all of their talk about celebrating diverse viewpoints, Hollywood filmmakers don’t appear to be comfortable portraying pro-life characters in a positive light. Which makes the movie Bella such a breath of fresh air. Although it debuted in limited release last weekend, Bella is an exceptional movie.
While you can read the full review of Bella at PluggedInOnline.com, I wanted to share the story behind the lead actor, Eduardo Verastegui.
