The Little Drummer Boy

i am sure that you all are looking forward to all your awesome plans to be with family and friends for Christmas. The count down to Christmas Vacation is on at my house - 4 more days!! We'll be heading to Tulsa over the break to spend some time with my family and then return to visit with the Ashby-Avery clan (erryn's side).

As you may already know, the trash cans are coming out this weekend at the Ed for the Life Church version of the Little Drummer Boy. This is when the worship band and church staff man a trash can with drum sticks and absolutely beat the tar out of those poor metal trash cans, and release the most beautiful worship that i have ever heard. I think that this will be the third year that LC has done this song.

I can't even begin to describe what an awesome event this is. I've attached the lyrics for you to read below - take a minute to read them and think about them.

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

This is the story of giving our very best to our Lord Jesus, our very best gift. We can give lots of gifts - just consider what we give our friends and family... dvd's, gift cards, clothes, electronics... often they are things that we spend little time thinking about and usually cost us very little, other than monetarily.

But consider the gift of the drummer boy. He had none of the fancy gifts that we see other people give, the kind of gifts that we would love to give, like a huge check, or a big honkin flat screen tv, or a car... And out of his poverty, he was able to give the most beautiful gift he could ever offer - he offered to use the unique talent that God gave him, and used it to the best of his ability to honor God! Sometimes, our extremely blessed lives blind us from seeing our true gifts bestowed by God. We have so much to offer from the heart, that which God has uniquely given us, but too often let our watch and our wallet get in the way.

And then Life Church just had to take it to a whole other level. They don't just play it from sheet music, they actually LIVE it on the stage! From Trent and the duelling drummers, to the church staff, everyone takes part in giving their very absolute best to God. In an explosion of percussion energy, the heart of the Little Drummer Boy is released. An experience that rivals any i have ever known in being in the presence of God. Everyone, playing their drum, their very best for our King.

And we know that the angles are rejoicing, for our hearts are singing their song - the song we will sing in eternity worshiping our Lord Jesus. I absolutely melt - totally releasing myself from the opinions and observations of those around me and embrace the moment and worship my Savior, tears running, smile beaming, and hands held high.

Here's a sample from 2006 - awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryqA90QxU3k

If you haven't experienced it yet, make sure you find a way to be there this year. And don't keep it to yourself - invite your neighbor, your workout buddy, your co-worker, your mom - whoever God has put on your heart. And don't be surprised if he gives you an opportunity to invite one of "the least of these" - whoever that may be in your life.