Merry Christmas everyone! I hope this season finds you travelling to see family members of all generations, singing songs you would never sing any other time of the year, wearing an excessive amount of green and red clothing, and hugging people you do and don't like. That, of course, is what Christmas is all about. Just kidding, Jesus. I wish I could send y'all a picture of a snowy Irish Christmas, however the weather in Ireland remains the same brisk/windy/wetness that encompasses 9 months of each year (and the last time they had snow was 2010). Enniscorthy itself does not look altogether different, except for the severe lack of sunlight (the sun sets at 4pm) and the beautiful Christmas lights filling the city. It is almost as if Enniscorthy is trying to make up for it's Vitamin D deficiency with a city that radiates led lights and Christmas music the moment kids get released from school.

No complaints here. Ask anyone: I am a huge sucker for lights.

Christmas blessings and misgivings

One of the biggest blessings God gave us for Christmas was Molly's father coming to visit us this last week. Honestly, you forget how wonderful and comforting having family around is until they are here with you. Now, I am a lucky man who has a great relationship with my father-in-law and respect him a lot; so while you may imagine a visit from your father-in-law as rife with awkward moments and subtle threats, my experience was more like a week with a kind, adventurous man, who loves to tell stories (especially embarrassing ones about Molly growing up). All in all, we had a blast and we are so thankful he got to visit us. One of the places we got to explore was Belfast where we saw the Giant's Causeway, crossed an epic rope bridge, and drove under the Dark Hedges.

On a more personal note, this Christmas has also been quite weird and awkward for us in a few ways. Last year every day was new, we never knew what to expect, we had just began to work in Alive Church and there was little time to actually miss home. Now, a year later, we know how the Irish do Christmas, what our schedule will look like, and we have found ourselves missing our friends and family back home much more. I often find myself imagining what time with both of our families would look like if we were there. Every sentimental commercial about being with loved ones seems to hit a little harder. And if I can be honest, for me it hasn't entirely seemed like Christmas. Molly has been in full Christmas swing: watching holiday movies, listening to Elvis Presley and Nat King Cole, and of course, incorporating "Elf" quotes into everyday conversation. But no matter what we do, we cannot replace what we feel when we're in Texas, and maybe that's alright. This will be our last Christmas in Ireland, as far as I know, and I want to savor every second of it with the people we love. This year I'm going to celebrate the birth of my Savior with the global Church, the family God has adopted me into from all around the world. I will sing, play, feast, and rest with my African and Irish brothers and sisters as only they can. It will be something to behold.

"Let's go find them, James."

Last week Alive Church did our annual candy cane run. This is where a few of us take about 200 candy canes and hit the streets of Enniscorthy, inviting the people we meet to join us for our Carol Service and wishing them a Merry Christmas. This year the event went so much better because Molly and I were lucky to get Paul Murphy to join us for this little adventure. For those of you who don't know Paul, he is one of the strongest, most cheerful, caring, courageous, and humble men you will ever meet. When I imagine the Irish people redeemed by Jesus, I imagine Paul and his family. Here's a picture of Paul with my father-in-law, Kevin.

Suffice it to say, when we left the church to invite the Enniscorthians, Paul ended up showing us the Father heart of God even as it applies to this Christmas season. Paul's whole goal was, "Let's go find the 'down and outs'. Let's go find the people God has placed in Enniscorthy today. Tell them to come taste and see." No one was exempt from his invitations. Even those who were busy with their shopping received the shock of being warmly greeted and a cheerful handshake from a complete stranger. Whether in high standing with the community, or looked down upon others, everyone came face to face with an Irishman who genuinely asked them how they were doing. From oldest to the youngest, rich or poor, happy or those feeling alone, all were given an invitation.

That is the kind of God we get to celebrate, right? No matter what stage of life you are in right now, God is welcoming you in to be in his family. He wants to shock you out of your holiday routine and invite you to come and meet with Him. No matter where on the globe you live, He's broken through time and space to reach out to you in a personal way, face to face. No matter how alone you may feel, He is "God with us". No matter how dark your situation may feel, He brings hope through tidings of great joy. No matter how much I may miss home, He has made it His mission to welcome the "down and outs", including me.

So let us drink deep this week, reminding our souls of a God who would not let anything separate us from Him. Let us ask Him to shatter our holiday expectations saying, "Jesus, what do you want to show me this year?" Let us see the gift-giving not as a distraction, but as a shadow of the fullness of generosity that is Jesus. Let us join with our adopted family and sing our hearts out to the Son of God who came to make us sons and daughters of God. Let us come and adore Him.

Merry Christmas, everyone. See you in the new year.