Memories are made of This

Those who know me, know that I am a fan of Dean Martin. His music, his movies, and his old TV show. We have been on holiday this past week in Indiana & Ohio, celebrating Christmas with our family so I took this book off of my shelf, Memories Are Made of This by Deana Martin.. I must say it was very informative about the "dad" Dean Martin. If you are enjoyed this entertainer, you will enjoy the book. Here is the review from Publishers Weekly:

In this evenhanded biography of her famous father, Deana Martin acknowledges that Dean "wasn't a good father, but he was a good man." The youngest child of four from Dean Martin's marriage to his first wife, Betty MacDonald, the author recalls how her mother began drinking so heavily that Dean's new wife, Jeanne Biegger, eventually took Betty's three girls in (Betty's son was living with his grandparents) and brought them up along with the three children she had with Dean. Martin details her father's life from his teenage years as a card dealer to his first Atlantic City gig with Jerry Lewis, offering her own observations along the way ("A glass of apple juice masquerading as scotch in his hand, he perfected a role that was going to become... indistinguishable from the real Dean Martin"). Perhaps Martin forgives her emotionally detached father too quickly, as when he doesn't show up at her first live theater performance ("I guess Dad felt that with so many children, if he did it for one, he would have spent his whole life doing it for the others"). But in the end, hers is a heartfelt and honest portrait of a mysterious father.

After reading this book, I have come to my own conclusion for what I want to be written about me: a follower of Jesus Christ, a good man, a great dad, a great husband, and a great friend. Not just my accomplishments or my endeavors, gifts & talents, or rewards.

My Grown Up Christmas List

Merry Christmas from the Yanok's

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas

I just purchased today, Ella Fitzgerald's "Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas".
It'd be hard to imagine a happier wish than the one this jazz vocal legend offers her listeners on this urbane-yet-homey collection of holiday favorites. The First Lady of Song recorded these tunes in 1960, at the peak of her interpretive powers. Ella is perfection. This pairing of Ella and Christmas is beyond wonderful.
The swinging-est, happiest, merriest of all -- and I do mean all -- Christmas albums! Most remarkable is what Ella does to the traditional more solemn classics, such as "white Christmas", "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." She ups the tempo "just so" and adds just the right several ounces of jazz touch to make them upbeat and elegantly swinging. The other songs are fast swing epics. This is one classic Christmas CD that should be in everyone's collection, along side of Nat King Cole's, Dean Martin's, and together with the "Rat Pack Christmas" are all you need for the season!

Without a doubt the best christmas film ever!!

Every year on Christmas day we open our gifts and then sit down to watch "It's A Wonderful Life". For as long as I can remember, it has been a Yanok Family Tradition - and, no matter how many times I've seen this movie, it moves me emotionally and always leaves me pondering my own life - wondering what I've contributed to this world & to my loved ones just by the simple fact that I am "here"...

This is one of those movies that tugs at your soul and, as such, it's one to be watched any time of the year - you don't have to wait for the Christmas season to watch this one! In fact, I think it's an awesome movie to watch anytime you're feeling down & depressed - as it reminds us that no matter how bad it gets, our lives do have meaning - that other people DO benefit from our being alive...

"It's a Wonderful Life" is about the life of George Bailey (played by James Stewart) - a man who grew up in a small town where everyone knows everyone. It takes place on Christmas Eve when, due to his thwarted dreams & a looming scandal, he decides that the only "way out" is to commit suicide...

However, his suicide attempt fails due to some help from an angel (played by Henry Travers) - a very "human" angel who's trying to "earn his wings". This "angel" decides that the best way to show George that his life DOES have meaning is to show him what life in Bedford Falls (his small town) would have been like if he was never born. He's taken to the homes of all the people whose lives he touched, and shown where they'd be now if there had never been a "George Bailey".

Through this experience, George finally realizes the amazing, positive impact he really had on these people, and on this town. At this point, he decides to "choose life" - it's a beautiful moment!!!

Overall, this is a wonderful, touching, important movie. As I said before, it leads one to ponder the difference they've made in the lives of their loved ones - and even the lives of "strangers". Because of this, I would highly recommend this movie to everyone - especially those who may need a reminder now & again that their life truly does have meaning - that they really do make a difference...

Missing the Snow

I am sure you have read and seen on the news how the midwest and northeast part of the U.S. is getting hit with snow. Well, since moving to Southwest Tennessee I really haven't seen it, and I must confess, I do miss the snow. But let me clarify...only in December(because of Christmas)and maybe a little in January. I don't miss shoveling it, driving in it, but I do enjoy watching it come down, playing with my kids in it, sled riding, building a snowman, and having snow ball fights. The best part about having a lot of snow, is running to the store to get the much needed necessities because you think you will be stranded for days....renting a bunch of movies, making hot chocolate, putting on our pajamas, turning on the fireplace, being with my Family, and doing NOTHING. :-) So to everyone up north....Have fun and keep warm!

The Sacred Way

I just started reading a great book Steven Moore recommended to me entitled, The Sacred Way by Tony Jones. I must say it is outstanding, the subtitle says it all, "Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life". This book is an invitation to explore the spiritual practices of God's Word. It allows us to move slowly into the time tested spiritual disciplines of Christianity in this world that thrives on fast food and quick fixes.

It has been especially good for me, causing me to concentrate on the sacred instead of always relying on the spectacular. In the current charisma world of the church , it tends to lean towards the "hip" of Christianity and not the "holy". The Sacred Way instructs us back to the sacred.

There was a great quote by Thomas a Kempis I wanted to bring to your attention:
"Old habits are hard to break, and so no one is easily weaned from his own opinions; but if you rely on your own reasoning and ability rather than on the virtue of submission to Jesus Christ, you will but seldom and slowly attain wisdom. For God will that we become perfectly obedient to himself, and that we transcend mere reason on the wings of burning love for him."

When God Intrudes

"Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus us bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin's womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked, "No Entrance" and left through a door marked "No Exit."
- Peter Larson, Prism (Jan/Feb 2001)

If you have a Prayer language your not qualified for Ministry

This is quite interesting. The International Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention says if you have a "prayer language" you are not qualified to be a missionary. This is an age old battle that needs to die. Good night, what is this...the 80's again? Wade Burleson over at Missional Baptist Blog made some interesting remarks. Wade is an IMB trustee and a pastor in Oklahoma. His comments are quite interesting, check them out here. I personally think the SBC would have a cow if they knew how many of their members actually had the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and prayed in tongues. Christianity is quite interesting these days. There are people all over the world who have not been saved, and all some are worried about is if the minister or missionary prays in the spirit. I wonder if the Apostle Paul knows that the IMB & SBC took his teaching on prayer language out of his Epistles????

Extreme Fundraising Ideas

My friend David Finch came up with some funny ideas for fundraising. Of course this is a joke, I thought it was quite funny. Honestly, I won't be surprised if these dolls won't be in a Christian Bookstore near you.

You can purchase religious talking dolls. Here are a few:

The Apostolic doll: Women come with long hair that can be done in 101 different styles and the men look like Ken. Both can quote oneness scriptures and both speak in tongues fluently.
The Prosperity doll: Comes with a check book, credit cards and an offering envelope. When you pull the string in the back it quotes all the money verses in the scripture.
The Baptist doll: Comes with it’s own personal copy of the Roman Road and it’s own personal hymnal.
The Catholic doll: Comes with it’s own rosary and a personal chalice and host.
The Prophesying doll: It tells you what you want to hear. It’s like the lucky eight ball. Just shake the Prophesying doll and look at it’s back and it will have a prophetic word for you.

And my latest idea is called “Faith in a Wallet.” Gold like coins and near real bills that say 100 fold blessing on them. These can be point of contacts as a person waits for the real harvest to come in.

Don’t forget to order my new CD Series titled, “Tongues in 30 Days.” The Dummies Guide to Tongue Talking. Now people can take these CD’s listen to them while they travel, work, exercise. They also can upload them to their mp3 player. They’ll be a master tongue talker in 30 days with multiple dialects. Chinese, Russian, Polish and Pig Latin to name just a few. Now you can be enjoy the joys of being bilingual. 100% success rate.