25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Music - Day 5-8

Hey y'all,
I got a little busy things to do and things on my mind.  I will catch you up in short order.  First....

DAY 5
After thinking through Christmas music for this blog, I keep coming across a couple of songs that I really DON'T like.  I'm sorry if you do, I'm sure there are song I like that you do not.  But I have to say...
The Little Drummer Boy
1.  It's boring
2.  The story takes too long
3.  The Ox and Lamb kept time?!?

Following closely to Little Drummer Boy is Do You Hear What I Hear.  I could tell you why I don't like it but I will let Tim Hawkins bring out why this song is whacky.

Okay, back to songs I like....

DAY 6
When I was in college I had the privilege to sing this song with a dear friend.  It was a great memory.  I like songs from the perspective of Joseph.  A classic

DAY 7

Unlike anything posted thus far, this next song is one of my favorites for sure!  Everyone likes Away In A Manger as it conjures images of kids singing in church Christmas programs.  My favorite version of this song is with another tune written by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895.  I like this tune best.

DAY 8
A Christmas music MUST is the entire soundtrack to It's Christmas Charlie Brown.  I love this show and it's simple truths.  Linus tells us the true meaning of Christmas when everyone else is concerned with the play, finding the right tree, and decorating dog houses.  The music of all the Charlie Brown episodes a favorites of mine.  Much of the music is by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.  ENJOY!  

There you have it! Day 5-8!

25 Day of My Favorite Christmas Music - Day 4

Growing up just 45 minutes from this artist's  birthplace of Tupelo, MS, how can this not be a favorite song of mine?!?  This is one of the songs that while it's content screams sadness and melancholy, it is part of the sounds of Christmas that makes me smile.  We played the whole Christmas album (yes, I said album...a record player was last year's Christmas present to myself) while putting up the tree this year.  The kids love it.  I think Amber tolerates it.  :)  There are a TON of different versions, some pretty good, but nothing beats the original.  Have fun singing along with the backup singers...you know you want to.   Don't be surprised to see Elvis again in the coming days (on the list of my favorite songs that is...not that you will see him alive....he is not).

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Music - Day 3

Okay, so I started my list with some serious songs that had thought provoking (hopefully they provoked thought) reasons as to why they are favorites of mine.  Today, let me swing the pendulum the other way. 

Sometimes you like a song, not necessarily for the content of lyrics or the thought behind the song, but just how it makes you feel while listening.  This song, while it does have great content, just makes me happy. I could put this song on repeat and just listen over and over and over again.  It's just fun.  My head starts bopping, I play a mean air piano, and dream of being the lead singer on stage with a band that sounds like these bands sound. (Some guys dream of being in the world series or NBA finals, I dream of this stuff) I have two versions of it.  I think the Harry Connick Jr.  version is my favorite but the Dave Barnes version is quite good too. 

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Music - Day 2

As most of you know, two years ago we decided to start the process of adopting a little girl from Ethiopia.  We don't know her and she doesn't know us but I'm quite confident that our hearts have been knit together already.

Last night we got to see Steven Curtis Chapman in concert.  Now my last blog post talked about how I wasn't really much of an Amy Grant fan.  I am a HUGE SCC fan.  I have been listening to him and seeing him in concert whenever I can for years.  His story has changed through the adoption of three girls from China.  They started ShowHope, an organization to help families raise money for adoption.  He has inspired many to actually adopt or to help those who are adopting.  Last night he said, "God is PASSIONATE about adoption."  I would agree with this completely.  Scripture is full of the theme of adoption.

He played this song in his concert and I was a puddle of tears.  Even as I type, tears come to my eyes remembering the story it tells.  So as you listen, think about what you can do to help the more than 147 million orphans in the world.  A friend of mine said, "we are not all called to adopt but we are all called to help."  What can you do to help give a child the gift of a family?
Note: not all my posts this month will be so serious.  Come back to tomorrow for a fun Christmas song!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Music - Day 1

Hey everyone!  This is Chris, the not as eloquent writer of the family.  If you know me, you know I love music.  Lots of folks did the month long list of things they were thankful for in November.  I thought I would write about my top 25 Christmas songs.  I am only going through 25th, because honestly by then, I'm done with hearing the same songs over and over again.  I know, quite a Scrooge thing to say, but true.  That said, I do like Christmas music.  So if you care to know what my favorite Christmas songs are and why they are a favorite, come back each day through Christmas Day.  So, without further ado.....

DAY 1

This is QUITE funny that I would pick a song by this artist.  Amy Grant is not someone I would choose to listen to on a normal day.  My wife grew up listening to her and was her first exposure to Christian/Church music.  My sister-in-law loves listening to her too.  But something happens during Christmas time.  I really enjoy some Amy Grant Christmas music.  It is classy, smooth, excellent, and just 'feels' like Christmas. 
I like this song because of my own constant struggle to simplify life.  I don't do well when life is moving 100mph.  I need margin and times of intentional slowing down.  That is why I love this song and I think a great way to kick December off.  Take time to slow down, spend time with family, spend time in prayer and Bible reading, and remember why we celebrate Christmas.