Of my first 18 Christmases in this world, I only remember 3 gifts I ever received.  There were several years my parents gave me presents galore – lots of little toys or knick knacks in which I ripped open each one hoping the next one would be better than the last.  But the only gifts I remember were the years that there was only one gift “under the tree.”

Granted they were large gifts, but those years – the years of the 10-speed, the waterbed, and the gifts of cash my parents handed me with the realization they couldn’t figure out what a teenage boy wants anymore – were memorable.  Now I did buy several items with the cash gifts, but I don’t remember what they were, I only remember those 3 gifts.  For whatever reason we’ve tricked ourselves into believing that the more there is to open, the better.

This year I want to give gifts that would not be “one of the many”, but will be “one for the memory”?

I have a friend who hosted Thanksgiving dinner at his house last week.  After the dinner when his and her entire family sat sprawled out on their couches and chairs, half-heartedly peering at the ‘good-for-nothing’ football games that take up airwave space on T-giving, his wife got the idea to take this opportunity and pick names for the upcoming Christmas swap.  So my friend rounded up the names of everyone present (pun intended) and they all joyfully picked a name of the family member to whom they will be giving a gift.

After the cheery fun of picking the names had commenced, my friends wife walked sheepishly over to him and said, “Honey, I just thought of something.”  “Yes?” He answered inquisitively.  “I already bought all the gifts for everyone in our family.”

After much thought, they came up with a solution:  They would give their family members they had picked the gifts they had purchased for them, and they would sell the other gifts to the people who had picked the recipients of the gift they had purchased.  That way they wouldn’t really have to pay for everyone’s gifts, which is the reason for the swap in the first place, and the other people wouldn’t have to sacrifice to go out amidst the hustle ad bustle of the shopping world and get a gift for their pick.

Aaaaaahhhh the joy of Christmas and the spirit of giving.

The following is a conversation between my wife Carie and I after we found out we forgot to buy pickles at the grocery store:

Marty:  What has gone wrong?! (expressive)
Carie:  Pickles weren’t on the list.
Marty:  I should have put them on the list.
Carie:  You didn’t make the list.  I did.
Marty:  I know, but I’m just taking the blame away from you and onto myself.

Now that  is good husbanding!

I would just like to say that it’s only 5:45 pm.  I’m in meetings until 8:00 pm.  And I miss my wife, Carie,  already.  Like Solomon said, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.” You know he believed that with his whole heart too because…

He had 700 of them.

It appears that my friend of many years, Dave Huey is finally tying the knot and getting married on November 7th, 2009.  Dave and I met in college somewhere around 1995, and bettered our friendship a few years later when we both lived in Hotlanta.  In honor of Dave’s upcoming marriage, I’m going to share a story a month about Dave.  They will all be funny and they will all make me look as bad as Dave I’m guessing.

One of my favorite memories of Dave was when I was starving in 1998.  Not for attention.  Not for relationship.  Literally starving.  I worked in sales for a few months in Atlanta, and one thing is for sure – I’m not a good salesman when I don’t believe in something.  So I was making ends meet – kind of – and eating ramen noodles and barbeque sauce most of the time.  Then one day Dave and I went to Chick Fil-A.  At the time, this was a big deal for me, because money was scarce.

Chick Fil-A was running this special deal where when you bought a meal, they would give you a card that had their nutritional facts on them with multiple choice guessing.  If you guessed the right answer, then you received a free food item.  The funny part was the answers were all on their nutriotional board next to the order counter, so a smart person would always get the free food.

So as we stood in line and Dave ordered.  Flirting with the cashier, Dave jokingly (but very sincerely) asked if he could have a stack of cards instead of just one.  Not wanting to be “uncool” or flirting back, for whatever reason, the cashier said, “sure, but don’t my manager see you.”  Dave lovingly responded, “Oh, I would never do that,” and we all laughed, like this was so funny.  It wasn’t all that funny, but it was great!  Because…

we ate good for the next 3 weeks!

4 years ago today Carie and I became man and wife.  I can honestly say that I would not be half the man I am if it wasn’t for her.  She is an amazing woman, and I am one lucky dude.

Thank you God!

I can’t tell you how many people have found my blog in the last week because of the troubles going on at Landmark Church in Cincinnati.  Actually, I can tell you…

23 people alone on Friday and Saturday (as of 1:30 pm) have seen my blog because they’ve been looking for gossip or bashing material on Matt, my uncle, or Lonnie, my mentor.

Sorry chaps, you won’t find any of that here.  But you can find that here. So please go look for gossip and backbiting elsewhere.

Thank you and good night.

The truth cannot come out while it is separated into several parts.  Sure you can tell me something is true, and I can believe you, and take your side, but what if the other side is someone I trust too?  So unless the two sides talk things out together, Parts of the whole truth will stay away from one another like Tyson and Holyfield 10 seconds after someones ear was bitten off.

An individual can tell me its their spouses fault, but unless I hear from both sides together, “it’s a two way street baby”.

Two friends can stay away from one another for an extended period of time because of an offense that has taken place, but unless the offended takes it up with the offensive, its called “gossip”.

A friend and a family member can accuse one another of horrendous things in some sort of religious civil war, but unless the two sides meet, the body of Christ is the one who falls, and guess who will be the one to keep it all down?

(in a church lady voice) Could it be…?

I need some help.  Carie and I are on a mini vacation this week, because she has off from school, and I’m taking a few days to hang out with her.  We’re looking for some creative things to do around the Central Massachusetts area.  We decided not to go anywhere because we’re going away from a few weeks later on, so this just leaves the options of hanging out at the house (which we’ll no doubt be doing to some extent) or seeing the area a bit more.  But I’d like to do some creative things in the latter category.

So what do you got for me?  Any suggestions for things to do?

Ideas please.

This Sunday was great at Fellowship Church in Holden, Massachusetts!  There was an electric spirit  as our FC family was able to come together without snow or ice obstacles for the first time in several weeks.

Now, of course, being a Steeler Fan, next Sunday I’m looking forward to one of the greatest finales of all time.  That is the last segment of our series entitled “30 days to live”!  What else could it have been?

As we prepare for next Sunday morning @ Fellowship, I’m going write a series of blog posts highlighting some of FC lead team, life group leaders, and Fellowshippers who are making an impact for the kingdom of God in the Central Massachusetts area!

I hope you’ll check out the blog on a regular basis this week, and see what God is doing here at Fellowship.

And GO SUNDAY!!!

I got this idea from viewing the NFL Network this morning.  It’s Super Bowl week, and all week they’ll be interviewing and highlighting people who are a part of the Super Bowl (like the Steelers) and people who are not a part of the Super Bowl (insert your team here).