**Mustard Seed Distributed**

MG-The man, the myth, the legend. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. What will you do with it? I want you and everyone else to know that it is rare to develop a deep relationship as a male with another male. However, in my listening to God, and reaching out to you, you have responded. You have been vulnerable, truly REAL, and laid it all out on the table. I have so appreciated that, as many males in our society enter into relationships with other males, they hold back and don't open up with their true emotions, feelings, ideas, visions, or whatever you may have. They don't allow other men to see the REAL them, myself included. What makes us so stupid? Pride? Arrogance? Stupidity? Not sure, but I thank you for being my friend. Now go get a kleenex.

So the Christmas extravaganza is all over. It was the most incredible Christmas I have ever experienced. Watching the video about how Christmas has a Face made it all complete. Watching my girls experience joy-even with the limited amount of presents-was incredible. Harry gave us a check for $1000 for no apparent reason. The generosity and demonstration of pride in that maneuver is pretty incredible. Superstar and I need to pray about how we will use that, and what it should be for. I couldn't help but think in every event revolving around Christmas this year if we will actually be able to do the same things next year. It is sad at times to think we might not be able to be at certain events, or enjoy being so close in proximity to our parents. I wonder if we will be able to afford to come to Michigan (notice I didn't say home...) for Christmas. If we can, how different is that going to be? VERY.

I just felt like God told me that I needed to write to all of the leaders at Kensington for some time. I was raised Catholic, and when I got to high school, I stopped attending. I couldn't figure out why we were going to church, saying the things we were, but then I would see the same people not living the way they spoke or living the things they spoke about. I first attended Kensington in 1993 at Troy High School. I was attending CMU at the time, and had just started dating Superstar-now my wife. I was living in Mt. Pleasant, and Superstar was living in Oak Park completing internships for her degree. My friend, Fish, who ended up being my best man in my wedding told me-"You need to check out this church my sister is going to." I very much trusted his opinion on everything, and I think Superstar and I attended together. I will never forget walking into the auditorium at THS where they were playing U2's 'I still haven't found what I'm looking for...

Here we are. Christmas. 2008 is next week. Hard to believe. Christmas has a Face has been so meaningful to me, mostly because of my girls. They wrote letters to Santa today, asking him to just leave them one present, and to take the rest to people in India, Africa, and Detroit. Livvy asked Superstar: "Why doesn't Santa just take them presents every year?" She's five. How do you respond to that? Well, Liv, you see there ain't no Santa. Way to spoil the season... It was really humbling to know that God is at work in the hearts of each of us, and really cool to know that others are going to see his Face this year because we were willing to see His face through our face, and shine the light on others' faces. God Bless Us Everyone.

What an awesome thing to be able to serve for the Christmas services. It's been 12 hours over the last two days after a LONG day at work trying to keep the students (and the teachers) under some level of control before Christmas break, but how incredible to see people's talents being used to show people Jesus. Every time the Light of the World video came on, I welled up like a schoolgirl. I can't wait to see the total for Christmas has a face... Put the house up for sale on Wednesday, had a showing today. I am faithful that God has a buyer for us, and my prayer is that it will sell in the first 30 days. Superstar says that I shouldn't test God like that, but after the rose story, I think he can handle this one. Interesting conversation with a neighbor's kid after school yesterday at bus duty. I think he's in 9th grade now. You see, Superstar sent out the Christmas letter and photos of the girls to friends and family. It just so happens that we have frien...

"And then.............depression set in." So we own this house. We can't own the house and afford to move to NYC. We need to sell it. I am SO fortunate that my dad is such an awesome man. You see, he is a plumber. And a heater. And a licensed builder. And does finish carpentry. Etc. Among all of his talents, the greatest one is his gift of giving. Maybe that's why I tend to be so giving of my time, energy, and talents. Because he modeled that for us. Never complained, never gave out of compulsion. I remember going to Mrs. Asquiths' house on Christmas Eve one year because her heat wasn't working. She was in her 90's I think. Anywho-back to my dad. The casa de kelly that we have now is only because of my dad. He helped us draw up the plans that we wanted. He organized his friends, contacts, etc. in order to make this house a possibility. He called in chits. He 'traded' things for our house to be a possibility. He allowed us to mov...

And there we were, on our way to Cutie Petootie's first birthday party. This week brought comfort from God on obtaining work in NYC. That was a great boost to my struggle with actually being crazy enough to do what he says. More comfort came in spending the entire afternoon with the launch team. I mean, you take these people, and God asks them to do something. They respond by actually stopping to listen, hearing Him, and then doing what He says. Just another Saturday night, right? Not exactly. How much more powerful can you get than spending quality time with others that listen and respond? The joy and the laughter and the smiles are inexplicable. Sick Pete, the Yankee, Amsterdam, and the Pastor all in the same room just yucking it up. No particular reason, just yucking. (Although Sick Pete and I enjoyed the Yankee and the Pastor walking out in mid conversation, with them not even knowing we were in mid conversation!) It was very enjoyable getting to know la Puertoriqueñ...