What do trains have to do with Christmas & Jesus

After watching Polar express, again, I was wondering what trains have to do with Christmas...

I came up with a few comparisions between followers of Jesus and trains rides:

Following Jesus is like a Train ride because...

1. For both the journey has just begun when you get on
2. Sometimes you go through the city and see Jesus everywhere other times you go through the country and think he is nowhere to be found
3. You are always moving on the train it is just sometimes it is toward Jesus or away from him
4. There are other people on the train and Jesus gives us help by having people with us
5. It is your choice to get on or off the train and the same for following Jesus
6. You get drink and get fed on a train just like Jesus who is the bread and water of life
7. The train has guidelines to obey and so does Jesus
8. You can take things on a train with you, but the space is limited. It is the same when we follow Jesus.
9. There is only one ticket you need to have to get on board and with Jesus it is similar, you need to believe He is Lord and Savior who died on the cross and rose from the dead so that all who believe may have a restored relationship with God
10. The tracks that the train ride on are narrow and with Jesus his path is similar
11. There is a conductor on the train to help people follow the rules and Jesus provides help like this for His followers
12. Trains can span enormous gaps using bridges and Jesus helps us do the same
13. The foundation trains ride on, the stuff underneath the metal tracks are big pieces of wood and large spikes just like the foundation of following Jesus with the big piece of wood and spikes used to nail him to the cross
14. Trains are like following Jesus because they both have there doors open for anyone to get on

Posted by Corben

It's begining to look and smell like Christmas

We are all decorated. With the exeption of our real Christmas tree which we will go and get more than likely next weekend with my parents. They will not be able to get one this year due to the fire at their house and the fact that they are still living at the Holiday Inn and will more than likely still be there until January. But hey there is a pool and Pearl loves swimming with her Dad and Pap Pap.
We are having a Christmas open house this weekend for the congregations of the two churches Corben serves, our family and friends. So that is why it has been smelling like Christmas around the Russell house this week. Bonnie, my mom and I have been baking cookies this week for Saturday. While Grandma has been making candy at her house.
Pearl is getting excited about Christmas. She has been dancing and singing with our 4 1/2 foot santa that sings. She has also been giving him lots of hugs and when she goes to bed she says bless you to him on her way to bed. Her Grandpap Price says that is because she is trying to butter him up for more gifts.
Pearl loves to drive around and look at all of the lights as we travel about during this Advent season. She ooo's and aw's the lights as we go past, but I've noticed that if she has oooed once she does not the next time we pass the house. Not sure why, but I do know there is a reason in the mind of hers.
Pearl went to see her first movie at a theater yesterday. We took her to see Santa Clause 3. She did great and liked the movie. Well the first 45 minutes of it than she fell asleep and woke up just in time to watch the credits and out takes. The movie was good and has a good message if you listen. I won't say any more incase you want to or are planning to go see it.
Well better get back to backing cookies and cleaning the house while Corben is at his men's breakfast and Pearl is spending time with Grandmas Price.

Busy Busy

Life has been busy busy busy at the Russell household these past few weeks. There was trick-or-treating with Pearl on a vey wet Halloween this year. This is a picture right before our little elmo went out into the streets and turned into a soggy elmo. She had a blast though and did not want any help carrying her pumpkin. Pearl and her dad are still eating the benefits of her wet walk door to door.
Shortly after Halloween we found out that Light up Night in Bridgewater is Saturday, November 18th. So we have been getting ready for that the past couple of weeks. The decorations started to go up little by little and Pearl got excited more and more. The only battle that we have had is taking the decotations off the tree. Other than that she has not been bad. She is so much fun to watch as she explores everything. We have a bust of Santa holding baby Jesus that is sitting at her eye level. She is always looking at it and saying baby. I told her the other day that it was baby Jesus that Santa is holding. She stood looked at it for a whily and now everytime she goes over to it she says Jesus points to Santa and than baby and points to baby. We still have some work on this one.
Christmas is going to be soooooo much fun this year with Pearl. I can not wait.
Last week we went to visit Corben's family for an early Thnksgiving and Chirstmas with his brother and his family. It was great to see the family and Pearl loved playing with her cousin Jared and Alyssa and seeing all her grandparents and great grandparents on Corben's side of the family. She doesn't get to see them often.

Here is Brenda!
My Beautiful Wife :-)






Posted by Corben

Here is my mug shot :-)





Posted by Corben

Mission Poem:

I’m a Christian on a mission

With a vision of the plan,

But on the other hand,

I’m fallen man,

Reconciliation, regeneration,

No more alienation just glorification

“For our Lord Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life”

No more strife, huh,

Suffering servant slowly sagging on that cross for our life

Slowly sagging on that cross for our life

So in recognition of our evangelical commission

From the one who gave us the way,

We must obey without delay,

For the time is now, the harvest is ripe

Don’t be afraid of the hype just ask how

So what would you do for those who have done for you?

Consider Jesus, “Think globally and act locally”.

Lets take it to the next level in appreciation of Jesus’ crucifixion

An opportunity to a path of reclamation.

You see I’m not a prophet

I’m no Ezekiel, but I love the Lord

Instead of a Ford, for the ways of Man make me bored.

Behind the scene I hope you see what I mean,

The world isn’t an impregnable force for taking,

But God’s creation in the process of restoration.

And here comes the best part:

He wants you and me, not just Isaac or Amos,

The known or famous to fill that void and express the truth.

We were meant for this, born for this, are you ready to step up

Live your best and be put to the test:

“Through the fires of affliction”,

“To live is Christ and to die is gain”

If you want a purpose or feel a need to know

It’s all to give glory and honor to God alone,

To put Him in the drivers seat,

For us to get on our feet

And meet God where He's at!

Posted by Corben

Here is a little poem I wrote a while back:

God of gods, King of kings
has graced me with your presence.

Your love sends me soaring,
your absence leaves me roaring.

Oh, God of gods, King of kings,
I appeal to your essence,

may we sow your seeds,
pull our weeds,
and keep your love ever growing.

Posted by Corben

Pearl our pride and joy just turned two at the begining of the month. Everyone says oh the terrible twos. I must admit that at times I would agree, but more often than not I would say it is not all that bad being the mother of a two year old. She is learning new things every day and in the process teaching me new things everyday. Like Saturday morning she learned that she can reach the bowl of fruit I have sitting on the washer in our kitchen and that she can just take a bite out of the apple. I learned that the washer is no longer a "safe zone" and that my little girl is growing up. She is 38" tall and can reach just about anything, and she no longer has to have Mom or Dad get her an apple and peel and cut it up to eat it she can get the apple and eat it without our help. Who knows what lesson she will teach me tomorrow.

I have been participating in a women's Bible Study at Concord UMC. We have been studing the book of Daniel. It has been a very good experience for me. Even though I do not always do my homework. Yes I said homework and yes I said I do not always do it. I know I should, but I don't and I do not have any good reason. Tonight one of the things that struck me as we were begining to look at chapter 6 was that God does not and has never promised that He would keep us from the fire or the lion's den. He did however say that he would be there with us and see us through. Sometimes we are going to have to experience something for God to use us to influence the influential for Christ, and we do not know who the influential may be. Therefore we should as Daniel did live a life of integety and honesty. We should be as Beth Moore says developing holy habits. I know that I need to work on developing holy habits and I believe that with God on my side I WILL.