This year will mark my 51st Christmas. Over the past half of a century, I have had many memorable moments. I vividly remember hitting a parked car on my brand new bike at age six; that was definitely memorable. I also remember the time throwing up at my Aunt’s house from eating too much fudge and peanuts; yep, that was a memory. I also reflect back on all the special moments with my children being snowed in at Lake Tahoe, sharing those precious moments as a young family; definitely memorable. But this year will have to go on record as the the Christmas that I will remember for a lifetime.

Last summer, our church decided to take Christmas to a different level. We dreamed, “What would it be like to bring Christmas to over 1,000 children, who may not have a Christmas due to their difficult life circumstances?”  The dream was turned into an action plan led by Melissa Vogel and Dot Tobey, and these two incredible ladies raised over $40,000 in gifts, donations and food to serve hundreds of families in need.

Yesterday, the dream became reality as we hosted our First Annual Live Love Christmas. 280 volunteers showed and transformed our lobby and gymnasium into a huge shopping center, complete with shopping aisles, wrapping centers, hospitality section and places for people to sit and enjoy special music.  Parents came in and shopped for over 1,000 kids. (See TV News video below).

The day was filled with tears of joy and gratefulness  as families filled their bags with toys for their children. We also gave out fifteen bikes to specially selected families, who were overwhelmed with the reality that their child would receive their Christmas wish. I wish I could publish the incredible stories that unfolded throughout the day, but the list would be too long. Needless to say, many life changing moments took place throughout the day.

Presents were all donated by  KGW TV, Zing Toys, Toys for Tots, KOHL’S Department stores and many private business people. Starbucks and Panera Cares supplied all the coffee and pastries. CBC members donated wrapping paper, and we even were given 150 Christmas Trees  for any family needing a tree.

After two days of set up, thirty hours on my feet, a steady diet of cookies, coffee and pizza, I have to say this will be a Christmas to remember.  I do understand that the actual day of Christmas is still a few days a way,  but I have to confess, I feel like I already had the best Christmas ever. Living to give, not to get is the best way to spend Christmas. We are already dreaming of our next Live Love Christmas. Hope you will be a part, or start a Live Love Christmas in your town!

Creation itself show the genius of God. You can see it all around you, but if you look closely, you can even see it right in front of you in the things you put in your mouth.

Here are some interesting thoughts that may inspire you to believe more in the Genius of God as well as maybe eat a little healthier!

• A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye… And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
• A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.
• Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
• A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
• Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
• Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
• Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female – they look just like these organs. Today’s research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
• Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
• Onions look like the body’s cells. Today’s research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.
• Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries
• Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
• Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Well, the leaves are falling from the trees, the nights are growing longer and the cool brisk air seems to think it is time to hang around a while. With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, the retail giants have chosen to inch their marketing madness upon us a few weeks earlier. Maybe in a few  years we just might be seeing sleigh bells in August? At any rate Ho, Ho Ho is already here, here here!

For many this is a time to get excited about what you might get for Christmas. I remember as a child dreaming for months about the endless treasures that would soon be laid up under the tree for me to devour. Lego’s, GI Joe seem to always be at the top of the list. Oh, how I remember the thoughts and emotions associated with this time.

The older I get, the more I realize, life is really about what you give, not what you get. The joy has seem to have shifted 180 degrees in the opposite direction. I seem to catch myself dreaming about what I can give away, how I can bless another person to make their life a little easier. After all, what do I need another shirt, sweater or???

So this year, I am looking forward to working with a few amazing people to bring Christmas to over 1000 under-privileged children. We are spending hours looking for people to donate presents, volunteer and make the season a memorable one for many families. On December 22nd at our Rocky Butte Campus, we will convert our auditorium into a FREE toy store.  Parents will be able to come and select presents for their kids, wrap them and take them home with a sense of dignity and joy.

If you are looking to give and not get this year, you might consider getting involved with us and get excited about Ho, Ho, Ho already! If you know someone in need that you would like to refer for free gifts or would like more information to get involved just go to our:

LIVE.LOVE Movement  site.

Lets make this memorable for others and in turn, make it memorable for yourself.

Today Pastor Craig and I took a drive up into the beautiful town of Whitefish. This smaller resort community is filled with great shops and a cool vibe. If I was ever to move to Montana, I think I would pick this cool place. I hear the Johnny Depp drives around in his yellow Lamborghini which I imagine would be an easy sight to find in the midst of all the monster pick up trucks that line the streets.

The best find of the day was the Red Caboose. This very cool Yogurt and Coffee shop is one of the most welcoming joints this side of the Amazon with some of the friendliest owners I have ever met. Reid and Kelli Trontel have made a trek all the way from Nashville to set up the hottest establishment to come to Whitefish in years. Rumor has it that they will also begin serving Portland’s legendary Stumptown Coffee in a few weeks. You should also follow them on Facebook, as they are constantly giving away cool things.  If you ever make it to Whitefish, take the time to drive over and grab a yogurt or cup of coffee and hang out at the Red Caboose. You won’t be disappointed!

Today, we hopped on a bullet train and travelled to Osaka to spend the day with a great friend and pastor, Joel Kaylor. We spent the day sight seeing at a famous Buddhist Temple, shopping down town, eating at the Osaka Barbecue, and finished the day speaking to Joel’s leaders at Life Church.

I am just amazed at the speed of these bullet trains and thought I would post a picture for you to just watch how fast these trains move. Enjoy!

20 Years Sleeping 20 years Working
6 Years Eating 7 Years Playing
5 Years Getting Dressed 1 Year on the Telephone
5 Years Watching TV 5 Months Tying Your Shoes
2 ½ Years Miscellaneous 3 Years Waiting for Someone
1 ½ Years in Church

Time is one of the most precious commodities given to man by God. It cannot be purchased, stored, or put on pause. Once this day is gone, it will never return. Let us never have to regret the hours that we might have devoted to Him and His service. Let us not squander the precious gift of time on our own selfish interests.

Over the last five weeks, Pastor Frank Damazio and myself conducted a series that talks about these special gifts, which are the gift of love, peace, grace, joy and hope. I would like to invite you to tune into the podcasts and listen to these timeless messages at The Gift Messages . You never know, you just might get an extra gift for this New Year.

Let me know your thoughts as you listen.

Marc