Behold, the Bird...

Imogene: "Wow! What's that?"
Me: "That's our bird, babe."
Imogene: "We're eating a bird for Christmas?!"

Okay, so I admit it... I'm crazy for a smoked turkey. One of my most fond yearly memories of Christmas growing up is that of my Pappy smoking a large bird on Christmas morning. Every year, while his health remained intact, we'd have smoked turkey for Christmas lunch. He always kept it simple, but the flavor was -without fail- outstanding.

About four years ago, Lindsey got me a smoker for Christmas. We were still living in Ackerman, Mississippi, while I pastored Salem IMC and attended WBS. She made sure that I had the smoker in hand before Christmas Day because she knew what I'd want: to smoke a turkey for Christmas lunch. I did. And I have since.

Like Pappy, I try to keep things simple; however, I do have a couple of subtle twists to add a distinctive touch to the smokey flavor. First, the smoke must be wood produced, not just produced by charcoal, water, and poor ventilation. That being said, I burn a blend of hickory and oak. Second, I dress the turkey uniquely for her last date with destiny. She wears extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black peppercorns and is stuffed with a couple of stalks of celery and a granny smith apple cut into wedges. [Pictured above: I placed some apple wedges on the top of the turkey while smoking; hence, the leopard spots.]

So... yesterday evening around 6:30, I stepped outside and got the fire going. Once the bird was in position, I simply kept the smoker shut except to periodically add another log to the fire. I kept a close eye until a bit before 1:00 this morning, when I called it a night. Upon the kiddos' arousal from sleep, the bird was beautiful.

Just a few days ago, I heard Anthony Bourdain say that you should let your turkey rest for as many hours as you roast it. Granted, I didn't roast mine per se, so I let it rest for about 3 hours (rather than 12). When it was time to carve, wow! what a delight.

B-b-b-bird, bird, bird: Bird is the word!

questions I've been asking the youth

The following is a list of passages and questions our youth have been reading and answering on Thursday nights this Advent as we gather at the Daily Grind for coffee and study...


Luke 1:26-38
What are your favorite memories of the Christmas season?
What do you like most about Christmastime?
How important / meaningful is Christmas to you, and why?
In what ways are you willing to prepare for Christmas this year?

Luke 1:39-56
What does Advent have to do with the presence of Christ?
How does the presence of Christ effect sin?
How does the presence of Christ affect you?
Do others see the presence of Christ in your life; if so or not, why and how?

Matthew 1:18-25
How does the presence of Christ affect the way you treat others?
Are your relationships characterized by love? if so, how? if not, why?
What does Christmas tell us about the nature of God?
How would you rate (1-10) your preparation for this Christmas? Why?

The Advent of Christ

The Advent season is my favorite time of year.

I enjoy the weather as the temperatures begin to spiral downwards. I appreciate the signs, sounds, and smells of as folks ready themselves for Christmas. I love the giving of gifts and the closeness to others that seems to be ever-present each year around this time.

I, one might say, was made for Advent. But rather, in an even greater sense, Advent was made for me.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.

To both the cultural anthropologist and likewise the casual observer, it should be quite evident that this time of year has become radically commercialized and increasingly secularized. In response to such, the almost natural reaction is to fight back. After all, why shouldn't we get in fight? While I'm no pacifist, it occurred to me the other day that my wife and I, rather than choosing to struggle against the move of our culture in regards to Christmas, have instead simply disarmed it. We live for this time of year and actually love it. We make the most of Christmas and actually don't leave it feeling exhausted and exasperated. Our kids get excited about seeing Santa and Rudolph just like they do about Mickey or Tweety, and yet they know that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, that Mommy and Daddy give them their gifts, and that there's something magical about singing hymns and reading scripture as a family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Morn.

Advent was made for me in that the Son was made incarnate for the sake of humanity. It was made for me... It was made for my wife... It was made for my kids... It was made for you. May the blessings of His Advent be yours this season of Holy Days...

...unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...