Christopher Hopper

The day our Christmas tree died was the first day of 2009. Not because we don’t like Christmas; we do. Normally it would stay up through the end of January (or longer). But the thing is, we got our Christmas tree November 1st as it was the only weekend we had free for the following two months. So needless to say, she was quite brittle (I have the scares to prove it). And being the geniuses we are, we used a Christmas tree body bag to carry the beast outside. Save that next year, I’ll start the tree off in the bag (placing it at the bottom); putting the bag over the tree, as instructed, only produced a great piling of needles on the carpet…the very thing I was trying to avoid. Anyways, our music sanctuary in our green room has returned.

What were your adventures in getting (or parting with) your Christmas tree this year?  ch:

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body bag, christmas tree, needles

I hold in my hands the studio CD master for my next album (9th, for those keeping track), Live at the Lyric, recorded at Lyric Coffee House back in June of ‘07 with guitar-virtuoso Paul Rohling. Special guests that night also included Jason Rodgers, Christian Fahey, and Ryan Grant. Today I’m sending all the design notes, pictures, liner notes, and credits to my graphic guru, Jason Clement. Then it’s off to ESP in Buffalo for duplication! The product release date is Tuesday, February 10th, with lots of tour dates being scheduled in NY, MI and possibly TN (just got word that Phil Keaggy might sit in with us if we gig in Nashville!). I’m also stoked because we’re going to roll out a number of sepcial packages that you can order, full of “signature collectible stuff.” (At least someone might find it interesting). These goods will only be availible for a limited time right here on our new online store (coming soon), but you can always order the CD from us (hard copy, or iTunes). To date, this is the first album I’ve created that I can actually listen to from start to finish without cringing at something I did (or didn’t do). Let the countdown begin! ch:

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christian fahey, jason rodgers, live at the lyric, lyric coffee house, Music, new album, paul rohling, ryan grant

Whole bean Eight O’Clock Coffee is on. Been up since 3:30am after Luik woke up with a pee-pee diaper. Wicked wind outside, so I decided to edit Athera’s Dawn (working title for book III). To anyone that cares, on page 366 of 517. This book is too long…

CH

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book 3, eight o'clock coffee, the white lion chronciles

I must say that I am not a shopper. I don’t like shopping. I don’t like comparing prices. I don’t like browsing. I am a hunter…I’m in and out. Make the kill, drag the carcass out. But last night as I was shopping with Jennifer, picking up a few final gifts for our kids, I dare say I had an epiphany.

Luik is now two years old, the age of awareness when it comes to trucks and cars and making explosions (all loves that never really leave a guy…I was kinda’ waiting for this age with him). Likewise, I was given the responsibility of getting boy-toys for Luik, as Jennifer confessed to having no clue what to purchase. Given our incredibly busy schedules, most of this was left to last night; fortunately stores stay open late for just such reasons.

As I was…ummm…hunting…I found myself completely and thoroughly engrossed in my task. I was shopping for my son. Buying boy things, like Matchbox cars, and tracks, and Thomas the Train, and Disney’s Cars. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun. And I don’t think I’ve ever been so fascinated with the toy section of a store…accept for maybe when I was a boy over twenty years ago.

Suddenly I realized that this is they very reason why my father, Peter, still buys me a toy each and every Christmas; he loves giving his son gifts…toys to play with…

…in a flash, the epiphany went a step further…

…this must be what our Heavenly Father feels like. Why would such emotions be limited to humans, if they first didn’t originate from our Creator? He loves to give good gifts to His children (Matt. 7:11, James 1:5). In fact, the very nature of God is generous at His core (Romans 5:8, John 3:16). Although the preaching of certain aspects of prosperity have been taken to extremes, this does not nullify the fact that our Daddy loves to lavish us with presents…a feeling I touched in a new way last night. I experienced, if you will, a new facet of the divine nature of God.

While my daughter, Eva, slept for her nap this afternoon, I was busy in the family room assembling her new dollhouse. Thinking of her delight when she sees it tomorrow. Dreaming of all the memories she’ll have playing with her dolls in it. And it was then I had another epiphany provoked in part by something my pastor said to Jennifer and I this week. It’s not just about what our kids will get, its about what we get as parents: The experience of watching. God gives to bless us, yes. But He gives because He loves to watch. Emphasis on He. In the end, its not even necessarily about the gift, but what the gift provokes…

…in both parties.

Here’s to all the children that will walk in new, profound joy in the morning…and to the father’s like me, and the Father Himself, who delight in the profound ability to give…

…because we just can’t help ourselves.

Merry Christmas,

CH

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children, christmas, divine nature, fatherhood, gifts, giving, joy, presents