In just a little under a month, January 8, 2007, Elvis would have turned 72 years of age. Here’s a tribute to him from none other than Porky Pig singing “Blue Christmas.” Click below to play.

Brrrrrr! Here in the Seattle area it has been pretty cold and one notices it more because the power went out in at our home at about 9:45 pm, Thursday, December 14, 2006. It’s still out as of tonight, but some very dear friends invited us to stay at their home till Christmas Eve when the beds we are using will be needed for their family Christmas. We’ve heard that the power shoud be back by Friday night at our hours, so this should work out well. They were without power for about six hours last Thursday Night/Friday Morning. We’re here. Wow! It warm inside. We slept in our own beds the first three nights but the house got colder and colder. On Sunday night the family moved to our front room where the fireplace is that we kept going during the night and kept the room about 55 degrees. Sleeping on chairs better than sleeping on the floor, but not as good as sleeping in the chairs. Of course, they reclined almost flat. So we hunkered down, covered up and went to sleep. But, as of tonight, we will no longer be bedless in Seattle.

Well it’s that time of the year where the 24 hour a day Christmas stations play endless Christmas music. So, while not playing 24 hours a day, but at the click of your mouse any time during the 24 hours, here is O Holy Night, maybe like you have never heard it before. Have fun listening!

Napkin Scribbles are thoughtful sketches of God and life from thinker and author, Leonard Sweet. Len’s verbal imagery is being shared with you through the generous support of George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. On the first selection, Len is in Ashville commenting on our culture’s need for “little” things that make life bigger.

On the second selection below, Len is in Kansas City noting the cultural differences of two very distinct Church environments. Hear his encouragement to embrace the very best of of Christ’s character when it comes to living as a Body.

Yesterday (December 7, 2006), I underwent a Nuclear Ventriculography Test by my local cardiologist. I describe it here. He told me while my heart had some patches (stints and by-passes) in it strong and pumping well.

I reflected later that we Westerners have such problems with spiritual dichotomies and often see heart as something like a reference to something “inner” in the makeup of the human being. It should come as no surprise that “heart” for the Hebrew was another way of saying “whole person.” So, as I reflected on my cardiologist’s physical conclusions with a spiritual spin I thought, “that’s right my whole person has some patches brought on by life, but overall my personhood is strong.”

I wondered again: what if we lived life more with Genesis 1 and 2 in mind than with Genesis 3 in mind. How would we live differently? We are both redeemed and fallen, and at the same time. We are whole but patched at the same time. What if….?