Thank you..........

It is about overeating. It is about football. It is about general turkey induced laziness! But let me tell you what…..despite these things…..it is also about being thankful. We may have replaced some of the original intent of the holiday with new traditions….but I want us all to stop and say what we are thankful for. SO, I will start, and hope the rest of you may just chime in!
I am thankful for my family. They are the most beautiful blessing in the world to me. My wife who gives me strength and love all the time. My son who warms my heart with his love for life and God. My middle daughter who emanates joy in all she does. My baby girl who could not be more precious…..I am so thankful for them.
I am thankful that this year I got to work in Uganda. I cannot believe it’s almost been a year. But the experience changed my life and my heart and I’m forever grateful and cannot wait to go back.
I am thankful for my job. Some days I laugh and just cannot believe I get paid to do it. Serving the Lord is a privilege, but especially with my beloved teens!
I am thankful for my friends. I have been blessed with an extended family beyond my belief. If you are reading this I love you all!
I am thankful for our new home. It is everything we dreamed of and nothing we deserve. I pray my family grows old here.
So…..there is a start. May you all be thankful this year. And if you’d like, please share with us here!

Christmas Movies

Whether it is my own struggles with truly giving my worries to the Lord, or just general weariness, I still do not feel like getting very deep or theological on here. So instead,let's discuss something very shallow: holiday movies. What are the best Christmas movies???? While the classics are great, modern cinema has given a few gems too......here are 5 faves

5-It's a Wonderful Life-

Call it cliche, or predictable, but I have loved this since I was a kid. There are so many lessons in this...and one life truly can make a difference!

4-Scrooged-

A spoof on the Dickens classic, Murray rules at the protagonist you love to hate!

3-A Christmas Story-

Yes...another predictable one, but I cannot help it, this warms my heart and makes me laugh!

2- Elf-

Modern classic!!!!!!!!!! I love Buddy the Elf. Behindthe goofy laughs, there is actually a sweet story.

1-Christmas Vacation-

One of the funniest movies ever! I can almost quote the whole thing. No Pannell Christmas is complete without at least 1 viewing.

Honorable mention:
Polar Express
Muppet Christmas Carol
Die Hard

Tell me what you think!

Tears of a Mermaid

My lovely daughter Merrick is crying her eyes out right now, because I just informed her that she will never be able to become a real mermaid..............any ideas how to console that :) ?

Focus on the FAMILY

I am wondering if we can have a discussion. It is a sensitive topic to many, so I am not sure we can handle it :) You need to promise to be nice, and listen to everyone. But I was made aware of a story yesterday that has really got me thinking. I will share it with you.
You all know of the company/ministry Focus on the Family. Led by Dr. James Dobson, they are out of Colorado Springs, CO. They are a huge faith based organization on the American evangelical scene. Yesterday they announced that they are about to lay off 20% of their company, or an estimated 202 jobs! WOW! How sad for these folks, and what a rough time of year for it.
Given our economic condition in America this in itself is not so big news, but the next part is what has folks up in arms. And it does make you think. These layoffs come after they just spent over half a million dollars in recent weeks to help defeat Prop 8 in California to ban gay marriage.
This is difficult to swallow. I see why it is important for folks to stand up to things they believe in. But, at the same time, what kind of message are they sending when they put 200 families out of work and income in order to throw money into such a campaign? Are they "focusing on families"? It certainly is not a message of love is it? I struggle with this, as I see both sides’ arguments. But if they had to throw that cash some way, couldn’t they have fed many a hungry person in California instead?
I just feel that we aren’t doing any good for the kingdom sometimes, when we think we are. I think of the old story about a stumbling, drooling drunk who gets on a city bus and sits next to a gospel preacher. The preacher immediately begins reading Bible verses out loud in a menacing voice towards the drunk, and then shouts, “brother, do you not know you are going to hell?!?” The drunk stands up, slaps his forehead and says “oh no, I got on the wrong bus again”. (insert cheesy laughter here) The point is that the drunk was not deterred by the man’s “evangelism”. My thought is maybe there is another way? MAYBE is the key word----what ya' think? But if this world needs to know it’s going to hell, then I say the way to tell them is by showing them heaven!..........rather than “yelling on a bus”.
I pray for the company and the many families losing jobs around our country. Let us be a brotherhood of love. I propose that we should not tell people that God loves them if we aren’t ready to love them ourselves. So…..God loves you! So what do you guys think? Let's talk.....nicely :)

Your Love is Strong

until I can get around to writing, many of you have said you liked that Foreman clip so here is another. Currently my favorite worship song! This is for my lil' sis:

Instead of a Show

sorry.....been a little slow posting things lately. These lyrics really struck me today so I thought I'd share them. Enjoy until I can get back here and write something:

Instead of a Show
I hate all your show and pretense
the hypocrisy of your praise
the hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show

Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stop up my ears when your
singing ‘em
I hate all your show

Instead let there be a flood
of justice
An endless procession of righteous
living, living
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
Instead of a show

your eyes are closed when you’re praying
you sing right along with the band
you shine up your shoes for services
but there’s blood on your hands

you turned your back on the homeless
and the ones that don’t fit in your plans
quit playing religion games
there’s blood on your hands

Ah! let’s argue this out
if your sins are blood red
let’s argue this out
you’ll be white as the clouds
let’s argue this out
quit fooling around

give love to the ones who can’t love at all
give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
stand up for the ones who can’t stand up at all
instead of a show
I hate all your show
-Jon Foreman
Isaiah 1:11-17

and here it is if you'd like to listen

Christian Music

For awhile now, I have been quite dissapointed with modern Christian music. While there are exceptions, the vast majority of it seems to be plastic, recycled tunes with different lyrics. No one sounds different at all. Everyone is the same. Nothing seems original...It sounds like Nashville has decided to turn out sappy, and easy formulaic tunes and worship standards, rather than encourage true artistic integrity and creativity. SO I quit listening. Air1 had grown old. But recently I returned to an old favorite. Switchfoot had been the band to hate for awhile after their immense rise to secular fame. But, I've been so turned on by their lead singers' incredible solo efforts, that I started listening again, and I have to say...there is truly some good stuff in there! They have some fantastic lyrics....get out that old stuff again ...it really is pretty good. So I want you to join me in a discussion. I will start with 5, but will add more. I want us to all list some of our favorite Christian cd's and why! Come on...twil be fun!

Here is my 1st 5:


POD- Satellite
If you haven't seen these boys live, you cannot understand... This album set a new standard for bands who were followers of Christ. hard hitting yet melodic, it soared to the top of the charts. It has some fantastic lyrics. Go back and listen again..it is a classic


Jars of Clay
This is one of the best albums of ANY genre from 2007. It is GORGEOUS. Oh My God will cut you to the soul. Work speaks to me in ways a song never has....etc. PLEASE buy it if you don't own it.


Blindside- About a Burning Fire
One of my all-time fave records! The lead singer is unparalleled! The raw passion and energy in this album.....dude, I'm turning it on now.


Switchfoot- Learning to Breathe
Before the sound got all pretty and polished by pro-tools, this was their last record. It is grittier and much better in my opinion. Learning to Breathe is such a beautiful song.


Don Chaffer- What You Don't know
sadly many have never heard this album, or any of Don's fantastic band Waterdeep. This record will change your life. He is a true wordsmith...a lyricist in the mold of a Dylan! The songs here are honest...almost painfully. Find a gray day, a quite place, and go for it!