“Why does a baby born 2000 years ago in a barn to a poor Jewish teenage girl continue to captivate hearts and minds even today?”

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7



EB and I, with the help of a translator, were able to share with a group of Czech students about the real meaning of Christmas.

Thanks for praying for us and encouraging us on our recent trip to the Czech Republic. It was a privilege to be able to share the Christmas story and the gospel to a group of college students who have grown up largely ignorant of the story and message behind the religious symbols.

We were there as guests of an evangelical Czech ministry called KVZ which is run and staffed by Czechs. This ministry is similar to Campus Crusade and has its roots with Campus Crusade but it is separate from our ministry. Even in this statistically atheistic country, God has His people in place who are proclaiming His excellencies. The wonderful KVZ staff were very hospitable to EB and me and they are taking care of the follow-up from our outreach.

I laid out the Christmas story from Matthew chapters 1 and 2 and Luke 2 as if I was telling a story. I was introducing characters, recounting what they said, and what their words and actions meant. It was a perfect lead in to sharing the gospel. “Why does a baby born 2000 years ago in a barn to a poor Jewish teenage girl continue to captivate hearts and minds even today?”

EB was able to share how we as a family observe and celebrate the Christian message of Christmas in our home. It would have been something most every Christian family in America could relate to but it was new and different for most of these Czech students. What made it even more relevant was that EB shared about her own Czech heritage and how her great-grandfather had immigrated to Kansas from a town not far from Brno.

These are some of the Czech students who attended.

When we had a Q & A time, most of the questions were about the genealogy tables found early on in both Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospel. It was a very precise and analytical group of students yet they were cordial and friendly audience.

Before we spoke we went out for dinner to an authentic Czech restaurant. I thought I ordered a potato pasta dish yet this is what I got. I recognized cabbage and onions. And on the right was some meat with fur still attached. However, I still ate it. Not sure what it was though.

In the public square of Brno, Czech we visited their Christmas market. Christmas markets are a very popular holiday tradition across Europe. A Christmas market is a series of outdoor little wooden kiosks selling all things related to the holidays, from Christmas ornaments to hot wine.

We found this guy selling flasks that looked like ram’s horns. He looked just like an extra off the set of "Lord of the Rings." He didn’t speak a word of English but he didn’t mind posing for a picture with EB.

Gamblers for the Greatest God

“Are gamblers for gold so many and gamblers for God so few?” CT. Studd, British missionary to Africa in the 1800s at the onset of a gold rush in the Congo.

After the recent presidential elections I was very emotional. I scribbled down a lot of thoughts. Yet I wanted to wait until my emotions subsided before I circulated my observations. Two weeks post-election, here are some thoughts that still remain.

America’s presidential elections put on display to the rest of the world what is right about America. The politics leading up to the election are almost always ugly. But the actual election and transfer of power are an example to the rest of the world. It is a blessed country whose citizens can choose its own leaders. Many Americans stood in line for hours in order to vote. For my wife EB, and our daughter Liz (who turned 18 just two months ago), and me it was both a joy and an obligation to vote, even while living outside of the States. We had to do a lot of communication with our local US embassy and there was a lot of back and forth faxing with the State of Kansas of voter registrations and ballots in order for us to vote. And come January there will be a peaceful transfer of power when Obama takes office, which is something that speaks to the character of America. There will be no seizing of the military or throwing the losing candidate in jail or mass arrests (even executions) of political opponents, as frequently happens in other countries merely trying to put on a façade of democracy.

Several sources I read (for example: www.opensecrets.org) mentioned that $1 billion was raised by the candidates on this campaign! Wow! That is a lot of money for the pursuit of an earthly kingdom! Countless volunteer man hours and prayers went up in the pursuit of our next president. And here is where I want to challenge us, as American Christians, in our thinking.

Are we willing to put out the same kind of investment and effort to advance our heavenly kingdom?

Do you know what $1 billion would do for the cause of the gospel in Eastern Europe? India? China? The Muslim world? Are we willing to knock on doors, forward emails, engage in debate, cry out to God, in order to advance His kingdom? Imagine the pastors that would be trained, the missionaries funded, the evangelism done, the churches planted, the justice achieved, the suffering alleviated. Yet now is a difficult time for the work of missions. Now more of our American missionary friends are back in their home bases raising support than at any time since we moved to Budapest in 2002. And we have learned that some of them will not be coming back due to inability to secure funding. Other non-American missionaries have also given up and gone home, “back to their nets,” so to speak. This should not be so! The cause of missions world-wide is crying out for passionate laborers who come along side our missionaries and mission endeavors with the same zeal by which we promote our favorite candidate.

The Greatest God has given us the Greatest Cause. The Lord commissioned us before He ascended to “be My witnesses…even to the remotest ends of the earth, (Acts 1:8)” and “go and make disciples of all nations, (Matthew 28:18-20).” He “gave to us the ministry of reconciliation, (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).” After all, “our citizenship is in heaven” and not of this world (Philippians 3:20).

We will spend $1 billion on a presidential campaign but how much are we willing to invest in the advancement of a far greater, more permanent kingdom: His kingdom? I have a framed article here in my office from World Magazine that says the average Christian gives only 3% of their income back to Christian causes, including their church. (Some well-informed Christians have told me that figure is too generous.) And of the money that is given, less than 3% makes it beyond the borders of the USA. Statistically speaking, the average Christian does more financially to promote Starbucks than Christianity! And a simple Google search will reveal what sort of causes Starbucks is involved in!

Even though the Greatest God gave us the Greatest Cause, each of us must examine our own commitment to that Cause. There are many, many generous Christians out there. My family and others with whom we work could not even consider going to the mission field if it wasn’t for the commitment to missions of the American church. But if we run the stats of the previous paragraph, we learn that of every $1000 a Christian in America receives in a paycheck, less than $1 goes to fund the proclamation of Jesus Christ beyond USA borders. Yet getting the gospel to the remotest ends of the earth is exactly what we are commanded to do; it is the Greatest Cause of the Greatest God! All other earthly pursuits fall short!

The world is crying for a messiah. Yet much of the world has rejected the True Messiah and is projecting many of its messianic hopes onto a mere man. Christians, too, cannot pin their hopes for a Christian kingdom based on who occupies the Oval Office. For example, under Bill Clinton, who was not the choice of most evangelicals, international Christian missions that were rooted financially in the US dollar thrived. Under George Bush those same missions suffered. The value of the US dollar plummeted under Bush creating hyper-inflation for those being paid in dollars while living abroad. Countries that recently had embraced American missionaries suddenly became suspicious of a USA passport. Our hope as Christians cannot be on any one person, political party, currency or country.

This life is only temporal. And the path of this life will be a path of suffering. It will not, should not, be a path of comfort. After all, our heavenly glory is forever while earthly glory is for 4 years. Maybe 8. Christian, seek not a comfortable life rather a Christ-centered life. Take risks. Gamble. But not for an earthly kingdom. But for our Lord. Lets be the gamblers for God that C.T. Studd cried out for. Live as if you know that you have “obtained an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4).” What earthly kingdom or promise can make that same claim? What earthly god is more worthy of our allegiance than the Lord God, who created us, loves us and died for us?

Christian, soon and very soon, we will be at home with our Lord! Glory, unthinkable and unceasing glory, awaits us soon! We will experience glory and be glorified in ways that our finite minds cannot even begin to comprehend (Romans 8:18). And one day, before the throne, there will be one from every tribe, nation and tongue praising our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:9-10) and the Lamb will guide us to the springs of the water of life and He will wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 7:17). What a day of rejoicing that will be! Meet me there. Please.

Serbian student: “I would like everybody to know that God really changes lives and does amazing things.”

This is a picture from the street near the apartment of the team of missionaries we have in Novi Sad. This is Chuki (rhymes with cookie), one of our Serbian national staff. And that is a Yugo there on the left. They are still found in an abundance here in the former Yugoslavia.

If you do indeed read what I have posted over the past few years then you may remember that I have traveled at least once a year to come along side our ministries in either Belgrade or Novi Sad, the two largest cities in Serbia. In years past my work down there was always evangelistic. Yet this trip was different. I went down to teach on the Holy Spirit and what it means to walk with God. Even though there were only 15 gathered in the living room of a small apartment in Novi Sad, it was obvious to me that a corner has been turned. Instead of presenting the gospel to seekers, I was teaching young believers how to grow.

Serbia is a hard country. It is the remnant of the old Yugoslavia and is home to the “politically correct terrorist.” Whenever Hollywood needs a terrorist, they are too afraid to have that terrorist be Muslim or from the Middle East. So usually they choose a terrorist from Serbia. Too bad. The Serbs I know are all hospitable, friendly, great people with a hearty sense of humor who like America.

From left is Thea, ZZ, Cristina and Johanna. Thea’s and ZZ’s testimonies are posted below; please scroll down and read them. One word about Cristina. She is one of our full-time Romanian Campus Crusade staff who has crossed cultural, linguistic and political boundaries to be used by God to share Christ among Serbian students. Christendom needs more heroes like Cristina.

Serbia has a population of over 10 million. But there are only 10,000 born again believers in the country while Muslims number in the hundreds of thousands, mostly across the southern sections. Novi Sad is the principle city in the northern part of Serbia and with three small Bible-preaching fellowships among a population of 200,000, Novi Sad is referred to by the handful of missionaries there as the Bible Belt of Serbia.

You can also see more photos and captions by following this link to my Novi Sad photo album on my facebook page. I’ve also posted the testimonies found below on my facebook site. Please add me as a friend on facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=177665&l=9fcfb&id=545260313

Thanks for all you do to keep our family in the mission field in Eastern Europe. There are some HUGE challenges ahead just for the survival of our ministries across Eastern Europe. But thanks to your faithful giving and persevering prayers, our family can be used by God in a small way to advance His kingdom in this part of the world.

This is me with Viktor and Meshu, both Novi Sad students involved in our ministry.

Novi Sad’s city hall is located in the middle of the town square with a very European feel to it.

Oh, I almost forgot… I also spoke recently at our ministry’s Budapest campus meeting. I love our Hungarian staff and EB and I have so many good friends on this team. This is Kálmán and his wife Julci (on the left) plus two of her disciples, Petra and Barbara.

This is me and Laci (“LOTS see”). Laci became a Christian when an American “tourist” in Hungary approached him in 1987, while Hungary was still Communist. The American took the initiative and shared the gospel with him. Today Laci is married with three kids and leads our university ministry in Hungary.

The Serbian students’ stories of faith I found fascinating. I wanted to share two of them with you. Their photos are earlier in this posting. Oh, each story below mentions Speak Up! camp, which is an evangelistic English language camp in Montenegro that EB and I have attended the past two summers.

This is ZZ’s (Aria) testimony.

I had problems with my parents so I was angry with God for giving me parents like that. I didn't want anything to do with God. In 2004 I went to a voluntary work camp in Germany and met my boyfriend who was raised in a Christian family that actually lives Christian life and is tightly involved with the evangelical church. I thought his parents were freaky but they and my boyfriend kept praying for me for like 2 or 3 years. I still didn't want to convert but at least I had heard the gospel and realized that I don't really know what I believe in. Last year I met the students from Campus Crusade at the faculty (university) in Novi Sad and they invited me to Speak Up! camp. I went because I wanted to practice English. I had great discussions with Ramona Acatrinei from Campus Crusade Romania, read “Mere Christianity” and the Book of Revelation and was finally convinced! So the God's loooong knocking finally gave fruit last year."

This is Thea’s testimony…

I heard the Gospel a year and a half ago at the Speak Up! camp, first time in its true shape. Before that, I had believed that God existed and that Jesus walked on Earth like 2000 years ago, but I had no clue what it had to do with me. I learned it at the camp. I honestly experienced God's love there. You might be interested in knowing that your presentation about the Bible was very influential, and that it really made me think. I got a little brochure with some Bible verses and "directions" how to become a Christian. I prayed shortly after the camp.
Then, the group of STINTers (one year mission) came and I connected with a girl name Courtney Cozadd, who is a really amazing woman of God, sometimes it's hard to believe. She started discipling me and I started really progressing in my relationship with God. I joined the Christian Baptist Church here in Novi Sad in October 2007. I got baptized on February 10, 2008 at my church.

I am having an amazing relationship with God through Christ, and I really know what the line "no turning back" means. I know that my life is never going to be the same again. I went from being a bitter, disappointed and confused person to knowing where exactly I am going; God is continually changing me. I have a lot of inner peace, I am becoming more patient and understanding. I really see how God is working in my life daily. It is really amazing...

I would like everybody to know that God really changes lives and does amazing things.

Lunch at the Jacksons in Budapest

Often we are asked, "What is your house like in Budapest?" and "What is your home life like with 5 kids living overseas?" In the quick video below you get a quick glimpse that our home life is pretty chaotic and probably normal. We wish next time you could join us in person but till then...

"I get by with a lil help from my friends"

Although no longer ruled by Lenin, Eastern Europe is still wandering in a spiritual twilight.

Recently good friends have come along side us in our ministry here in Hungary. Here is how...

Bringing in the Hungarian Harvest Project

20 volunteers from the States came to Budapest for "Bringing to the Hungarian Harvest Project" (BHHP). These volunteers come along side our Hungarian ministries to help reach college students and high schoolers. They handed out several thousand SSKs (Student Survival Kits) which provide creative ways for students to respond to the gospel. They also spoke in English classes and did initiative evangelism in dorms and on campuses throughout Budapest.

We thank God for these laborers who come along side our Budapest ministry. “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few,” (Matthew 9:37) is one of the mantras of our ministry, because it is so true – both as God’s Word and as we experience that reality here in Eastern Europe. There are many opportunities for you through out the year to travel to Hungary and Eastern Europe and come along side us in the harvest field here. If God is tugging you in this direction, please let us know. We would love to try to make it happen for you.

Budapest high school students gather to hear a talk done by our Campus Crusade staff on God’s view of sex.

The photo above is of the group from Atlanta who participated in BHHP and who came to our house for dinner. Hours after this photo was taken, the group got on a plane back to Atlanta. Ashley (seated far left) was pulled off the plane as it connected through Amsterdam because of severe abdominal pain. Hours later she was operated on in Amsterdam and had a cyst removed from her abdomen. EB almost flew to Amsterdam to be with Ashley through her ordeal. But some USA WYAM friends in Amsterdam sat with Ashley until Ashley’s father arrived from the States. Ashley is home now and expecting a full recovery.

Brent (in photo above, far left, standing next to EB) had planned on spending the week with us after BHHP. It would give Brent a chance to lay low awhile. Unfortunately Brent had to leave after just one day. Brent received word that his grandfather died. Brent went home and preached the funeral.

God’s plan are frequently not what we expect. But He is sovereign as we learn to trust Him.

Fall Retreat for International Christian School of Budapest

Kyle Gillespie (pictured above) led me to Christ back in 1982 when I was just a punk and a recent high school grad. He blew away negative Christian stereotypes that I had and was able to get into my world. Kyle connected with me through music like Led Zeppelin, Jim Morrison and Pink Floyd as well as my favorite video games. Through that connection he introduce me to Jesus. Today Kyle and I are still good friends. Last week he traveled here to Budapest to be the speaker at our kids’ school's fall retreat. The student body ranged from loud confident American missionary kids to quiet shy Asian kids not confident in either themselves or this Christian religion that is so much a part of their school. Like Kyle did for me over 26 years ago, Kyle entered their world, used their stories, music and movies to proclaimed Christ to these kids.

To view some photos from the retreat, check them out the photo album on my facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=163351&l=97ab9&id=545260313

Kyle, EB and me (the photographer) along with a lil help from two good Hungarian friends (Andras and Timi) toured Budapest after the retreat was over.

Kyle's submission for the next Bruce Springsteen album cover.

Your partnership with EB and me allows us to come alongside our Eastern European missionaries so that BHHP and stories of life-change are possible. We get by with A LOT of help from our friends! Thank you! And may the Lord grant you grace and His favor in all you do. And may He draw you closer to Himself.

ICSB drama outreach

“I have no greater joy than to hear of my children walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4

Our daughter Liz, a senior at the Intl Christian School of Budapest, taught other students at her school the drama outreach that she did on her summer missions project in Mexico City. They all decided to do it here in Budapest. So this past Friday 1/3 of the high school traveled to a popular tourist shopping area (Vaci street) and performed the drama. EB and I went along as chaperones. We were so proud of all those kids! Most of these students initiated and shared Christ with people who were watching.

Ben's caribou kill

In late August a friend took Ben and me caribou hunting in Canada. It was our first time involved in big game hunting. Here is a video of Ben's trophy kill for the week.

Please know that this video is graphic and may not be for everyone.

Also, there are strict laws that govern the caribou hunts. For example, we were only allowed 2 kills all week and the edible meat is harvested. Even with hunting, most caribou never see a human; disease and predators kill far more caribou than humans do.

That said, enjoy the video!

The Bulletin Board

The Wall Street Journal in an article titled, "Dollar's Rally is No Cause for Comfort," on August 12, 2008, confirmed what those of us in the field already know.

WSJ: "...Despite its recent strength, the dollar remains in a deep trench, down 37% against major trading partners in the past six years or so. Climbing out of that dip could take years."

That stat, along with inflation at the local level in Europe, means that it is twice as expensive to now live in Europe as compared to just 6 years ago when we moved to Budapest. Imagine living in an economy where your money is worth only 1/2 of what it was 6 years ago! Most of our close American friends with Campus Crusade in Europe have had to make emergency support raising trips back to the States. In addition, Campus Crusade will loose many of our most valuable national staff because of the dollar's drop.

The good news: Our Hungarian staff, although they still have financial needs, have the healthiest financial support collectively as a country team, among all of our countries across Eastern Europe. Also, of the 20 Polish staff EB and I have worked with, 19 of them are much better off financially than before I began working with them. Our model for helping Eastern European national laborers works, it is just needs to be implemented on a much bigger scale than we are able across our part of the world.

A GREAT book! "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller. This apologetics book is written from a pastor/philosopher's perspective and is the best I have read since Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ" series. Many of the postmodern philosophers I studied in my seminary class are quoted by Timothy Keller in this book. Also Timothy Keller draws from popular movies and music to defend his points. He has some great chapters on forgiveness, how the doctrine of forgiveness is unique and how it gives evidence for the truth claims of Christianity. When this book comes out in paperback, I will buy a bunch to give away evangelistically. Here is a website for the book...

http://www.thereasonforgod.com/

The Saddleback Debate: I think the real story to come out of the Obama/McCain debate (is dialogue a better word?) with Rick Warren isn't who won or which candidate said what. (Although I thought Obama did a great job of articulating the gospel and McCain was refreshingly honest about the failure of his first marriage.) I think the real story is that this was a great example of the evangelical church leading the way and being a change agent, salt and light, in the political arena. The format was new, creative and done with excellence. And it wasn't the atheists or a fringe group that put on this debate; it was the evangelical church! I think Rick Warren was respectful to both candidates while asking pointed questions without compromising the Christian worldview.

Whereas in so many areas Christians lag behind the non-Christian world in quality and creativity, this debate allowed us to have an impact on the national stage without providing fodder that reinforces negative Christian stereotypes. I loved what Rick Warren said to begin the dialogue: (something like), "We believe in the separation of church and state but not the separation of faith from politics." Whereas the American Christian church has its problems and short-sightedness, what took place at Saddleback would not happen anywhere else in the world in terms of the evangelical church exerting a relevant and respectful influence on a country's political process.

Below are some pictures from a recent family reunion in Colorado we attended on my side (the Jackson side). One day Ben and I hiked up Colorado’s 2^nd highest mountain, Mt. Massive, just outside of Leadville.

This picture is of my mom (seated middle on the couch) and all of her granddaughters.

Montenegro: a Land Thirsty for the Gospel

We joined our Serbian ministry for an English language camp located on the beautiful coast of the Adriatic Sea. As we taught English and built relationships with the students, it set the stage for some great gospel conversations. This is one strategy of many as we trust God for movements of multiplying disciples across Serbia, Montenegro and the Balkan Peninsula.

(From left) Erol, our ministry’s Serbian director, Goran, Alexander, both medical students in Serbia and Brook Redd, former college roommate of mine and now a surgeon in Minnesota.

A group of Serbian students who attended our camp. Which one is the American?

During the morning sessions of the language camp, EB conducted a childcare for the children associated with the camp.

Brook and Kristin Redd

Alyssa Redd and our Rebekah

Savannah, Kayla Redd and EB

A bayside café where we had some great talks with Serbian students about life, growing up in Serbia and faith in God.

Beautiful Montenegro but with only 150 believers.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Something Silly Something Sad

This is my imitation of two cats fighting



On June 11th a tornado ripped through Chapman, KS. A few days later we drove through the city and shot this video.

The Best Albums of My Favorite Musicians

(in no particular order)

Films for Radio by Over the Rhine: I have followed this band for over 15 years; I am always attracted to artists who are open about their spiritual journey. Linford Detweiler, the creative force of Over the Rhine, says, “Spiritually, I’ve been a little bit all over the map. I’ve certainly abandoned my childhood faith, and then have struggled to come back to a place that makes sense to me. (Still) I personally can’t rule out the idea of a benevolent, supreme creator: an artist, a conflicted, creative force. Every time I see the night sky, flung full of stars, something awakens in me.” They have never had a top 40 hit but have a dedicated following, including Steve Beard of the website www.thunderstruck.org. Karin, Lindford’s wife, sings lead and her voice is as pure as Allison Krauss’, even though at times Karin’s voice slips into almost a yodel.

Best of the Rest by Over the Rhine: Till We All Have Faces, particularly the tracks, “Fly Dance” and “If I am Drowning.”

Blister Soul by the Vigilantes of Love: My sentimental favorite all time band. They are from my favorite city I have ever lived in: Athens, Georgia. When these guys were good, they were phenomenal! Blister Soul captures them at their zenith! In the early 90s they kept my faith in music alive with their raw sound and honest lyrics when contemporary Christian music was so melbatoast. Regrettably, when Bill Mallonnee decided to change bands, religions and his wife, I think the quality of his music tanked, in spite of Paste Music’s best efforts to promote him. I don’t even listen to his new stuff anymore.

Best of the Rest by Vigilantes of Love: Welcome to Struggleville

How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb: by U2. Bono’s influence on the world cannot be denied. When most mega rock stars use their fame selfishly, Bono at least attempts to use his fame toward the glory of God, reaching audiences that would not give most evangelicals even a hearing. Says Bono, “I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge... I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity.” With the exception of a few bad albums like Zooropa and Achtung Baby where they experimented with Euro Techno, {say it isn’t so, Bono!} Bono and “the boys play rock and roll” unlike few others ever have! Age only makes these guys better. And Atom Bomb is proof! Listen to the tracks “All Because of You” and “Love and Peace or Else” at full volume.

Best of the Rest by U2: All That You Can’t Leave Behind. The track “Elevation” is my favorite U2 song. However don’t overlook Boy (1980) and October (1981). They are still singing tracks from these early relatively unknown albums in their live concerts.

Beautiful Letdown by Switchfoot: Man, these guys have talent! Their lyrics are creative and genuine. They are young, still in their 20s. Therefore they should be making music for many more years; unless pride gets in the way, which has “dismantled” plenty of great bands, even so called “Christian” bands.

Best of the rest by Switchfoot: Nothing is Sound. Real close but not quite as good as Beautiful Letdown, even though Nothing’s title track is Switchfoot at its best.

Hotel California by the Eagles: I remember the day in 1976 on KY102 out of Kansas City when this title track was first played. I immediately asked my mom to drive me out to “Peaches” so I could buy the vinyl LP. Little did I know that 32 years later I would still be jamming to those guitar rifts. How can you measure a classic? Here is one way: My children have tracks from this album on their ipods!

Best of the rest by the Eagles: Lets try something similar. Since we are already back in the 70s, I recommend Bob Seger’s Night Moves. I’m still “waiting on the thunder” after 30 years!

Christmas by Mannheim Steamroller: For our family it isn’t Christmas until the Mannheim Steamroller starts rolling through our speakers. My children don’t know Christmas without this album; I believe it is the best Christmas music out there, period. Chip Davis, Mannheim’s creator, calls his music “18^th Century classical rock.” It is hard to believe this is from the same guy who gave us the 1975 Redneck anthem, “Convoy.”

Best of the Rest by Mannheim Steamroller: Fresh Aire Christmas, of course!

The Wind by Warren Zevon: When a man knows he is dying, you listen intently to what he has to say. Warren Zevon had inoperable lung cancer when he appeared on the David Letterman show. He was prompted by David to say something about life that his fight with cancer has revealed to him. Mr. Zevon answered, “Enjoy every sandwich.” Cute but totally missed the opportunity to give glory to his Creator. He did go out with a bang and his final album was fantastic. On one track, “Disorder in the House,” he receives some incredible guitar help from Bruce Springsteen.

Best of the Rest by Warren Zevon: Since I mentioned Springsteen, I’ll recommend his “Born to Run.” But I have vowed to never spend another dollar on Bruce because of how belittles my politics and worldview. But if you still have this album, I encourage you to blow off the dust and give it another spin.

A Liturgy, A Legacy & A Ragamuffin Band: Rich Mullins, who gave us such classics as “Awesome God” and “Step by Step” was a breath of fresh air back when contemporary Christian music was just terrible. I believe this was his best album ever and I wish he wore his seatbelt so we could probably still be enjoying more music from Rich.

Best of the Rest by Rich: This is the World As Best As I Can Remember It, Volume 1.

O Brother Where Art Thou (soundtrack): After I moved to Europe I started listening to Bluegrass, Country and Gospel because it reminded so much of what is great about America. Watching the movie helped expand my musical horizons. The movie was great, the sound track was better! As one critic said, “There is something missing in one’s childhood if he grows up not knowing the words to 'Big Rock Candy Mountain.’” Even if Allison Krauss isn’t a Christian I will continue to be a fan of hers, in spite of the unsolicited advice given me by an employee at an Atlanta Christian bookstore.

Best of the Rest of the Soundtracks: Cold Mountain. Enjoy the music but skip the movie.

A Hundred Highways by Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash’s life is a testimony to the grace of God. His recent biographical movie, Walk the Line, made me a big fan of his music. Unlike Warren Zevon, before Johnny died he got right with God and sang about the glories of his Creator and Redeemer. As one critic put it, “The Man in Black” wrote music that revolved around the themes of prison, trains, death and faith. Another critic beautifully noted that while entire bands revolve around music about death, Johnny Cash sang about grief. If the track “On the Evening Train” on this album doesn’t make you cry, you ain’t alive.

Best of the Rest by Johnny Cash: The Man Comes Around. But watch Walk the Line before you download this album.

Highway Companion by Tom Petty: His face has deep lines and he can’t hit the high notes he once did on songs like Woman in Love and Refugee. But the man from Gainesville is still crankin’ it out. He inadvertently wrote some spiritually insightful lyrics into the track “Saving Grace” that I use whenever I give my testimony of how I came to faith in Christ.

Best of the rest by Tom Petty: I haven’t heard it yet but I need to purchase and download Tom’s latest with Mudcrutch.

Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Look, I know these guys’ lifestyle is inconsistent with most of what I believe. And honestly, I keep ‘em at arms length because of it. But there is a creativity, a sense of humor and an energy that draws me to this album. A great combination of the funk that made RHCP famous with some great guitar rifts and classic rock sound.

Best of the rest by Red Hot Chili Peppers: I am waiting to see if their next album is a continuation of the cleaner act they displayed with Stadium Arcadium.

Live Wire by Third Day: A lot of their fans were disappointed in this album, so I am told. However, Live Wire made me a fan of Third Day. Has anyone else been able to bring the Southern Rock genre to Christian music? If they have, they haven’t done it like these guys have. There is also a Biblical depth to these guys’ music that I appreciate. Keep going Mac! I’m listening!

Best of the rest by Third Day: Their accompanying concert DVD of Live Wire is the best live concert footage I have seen; I think it is even better than U2’s Vertigo Tour.