Radio Free JoJo

I’ve been an uncle for as long as I can remember. My brother Angelo had the first in a new generation back when I was in grade school. My relationships with my now more than two dozen nieces and nephews are cherished beyond measure.

I think I’m a pretty good uncle because of the modeling I received from my aunts and uncles while growing up through today. I didn’t know my grandparents as all four passed away before I was born or during my toddler years. My uncles and aunts stepped into that grandparent role in my life.

The context of living in a large Sicilian-American extended family is that you receive guidance freely given from a broad range of elders. Even during the “know-it-all” teen years, the direction and care I received from my parents’ siblings and their mates was taken with the understanding that boundless love was behind it.

Let me give you a little more insight on a hugely-important part of our family dynamic. My mother had three sisters. I think I can accurately say that the four sisters were (and are) the most powerful forces of this clan that follows them. Strong, catalytic forces in their collective children’s lives.

But then there are their men. It takes a special guy to support and channel the force of such a woman! That’s the high rank that my dad and two Uncles named Jim attained.

Being married into the family gave these fellows, members of The Greatest Generation, license to provide clarity, perspective, and focus to the rest. Al, Jim and Jim were the relaxed trio at the family reunions, they joined in the games and wearing the funny hats, and sang parodies about what a crazy family they are so proud to be a part of.

Some “uncles-by-marriage” regretfully draw that “your family/my family” line and never fully engage into their wife’s family doings. That’s not the case with my Uncles Jim or my dad: they fully embraced everyone as their own.

I could tell a hundred stories about the impact these guys made in my life. But the best way to describe them is that they were foundational; pillars of strength. Their genuine interest and peaceful nature were like magnets to me; conversations were easy and enlightening, always laced with praise and words of encouragement. I especially loved the stories of the old days, when they were coming up. Imagine a life with little technology; instead of xBox filling your afternoon, you are filling a bag with coal so the family can be warm that evening.

They once were boys who went to war, now men in their twilight. My dad has been gone over 11 years now. Uncle Jim Borino is hanging tough in spite of the loss of his beloved Grace a few years now.

My Uncle Jim Doyle, my godfather, is now facing eternity. It is hard to imagine a world without his smile, sense of humor, and gentle spirit. Even as his body fails him, his mind and personality have not flagged. It’s that person of Jim Doyle, who for my 47 years has meant unconditional love, support, encouragement…someone on my side.

Thank you…I’ll never forget you, Uncle Jim.

Peace and love to the entire family as we all walk through this season, with Christ by our side.

It’s 6:00 on Christmas morning. A magical hour, with the Christmas tree ablaze and no sound except the furnace blowing, and the muted “tap, tap” of my laptop keyboard.

I can’t sleep, even though I only went to bed a few hours ago. The music from our Christmas Eve services at church last night are running through my head on a continuous loop; “Come let us adore Him!”

As I look around the tree at all of the presents I’m amazed again at how blessed my family is. Not because of the stuff, but because of the love and thought behind it. I’m thankful for the grace and caring that keeps this home intact and covered with love. I’m truly thankful for God for this moment.

My thoughts this morning have also turned to what other kids are waking up to this morning on Christmas here in Erie.

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Erie County PA 1895

If you were to look at a movie of my life 10 years ago, you would have seen me scrambling to make provisions for Christmas broadcasts and coverage of First Night-Erie and the Y2K date change as part of my management job at WCTL. At home I had two active elementary school-aged boys and a pregnant wife getting ready to deliver our Millennial Baby.

Let your lens widen out to the Erie community at large and you would have seen an optimistic community, ready to head into the new century tackling our challenges and accepting responsibility to make change. Soon after New Year’s, the region through the Economic Development Corp. of Erie County engaged Brian Bosworth to do a comprehensive 12-month study and propose a developmental strategy for the future.

The much-referred-to Bosworth Report was released on October 16, 2001 and it gave a frank assessment of where our region stood and where it needed to go. Plenty of Erie stakeholders were involved in providing input into his findings, delineated by a 13 point Executive Summary.

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Believe it or not, but this was my first chance to lead worship at our Erie site of McLane Church, which happens to meet Sunday evenings at 5:00 at The Cell Block, which is a very large bar. Thus the nickname, “church-in-a-bar.”

The great thing about that environment in the center of the city is the pallatable “turning back the darkness” experience that you feel as you worship the Savior. And indeed we did worship!

The small and stellar band:

• Ron Yarmin: Acoustic Guitar
• Brian Boleratz: Bass
• Brandt Fuller (Dir. of Worship): Acoustic Guitar/Vocals
• Joel Natalie: Worship Leader/Vocals

The familiarity of the set had them singing:

• Friend of God/Phillips, Craig & Dean
• Medley in E:
  • Open the Eyes of My Heart
  • Sometimes By Step (just chorus & alt chorus)
  • Here I Am to Worship (chorus & bridge only)
• Wonderful, Merciful, Savior/Selah (a bit faster & fuller than recording)
• Revelation Song

Thanks for the privilege to be with everyone at “church-in-a-bar!”

Note: I am participating in the “Sunday Setlists” blog carnival at FredMcKinnon.Com.

It technically isn’t “Taxation without Representation,” but it has been 14 years since a Republican sat on Erie City Council. So as one of the 25% of voters who live in the city and have an “R” after my name, it can be easy to feel disenfranchised by the those who are obligated to represent all of us. Often the values of limited government, low taxes, more efficency and less bureaucracy are not priorities by a local government comprised totally of elected officials from the Democrat party.

Most of the time, there are no Republican choices offered in city races, however this year we do have a real choice for City Council: Tim Butler. Tim has an excellent grasp of the challenges facing the City of Erie, and has a strong, effective agenda for taking on the problems head on. His experience as a local staffer for Sen. Rick Santorum shows that he understands the political landscape and can work effectively with all of the players.

Of course, we can vote for four council members in this general election. But with the lopsided registration tally for the Democrats, accompanied by great numbers of those that will just press the big Democrat button, it is very difficult for anyone outside the Dems to rank in the top four vote-getters to win a City Council seat.

That’s why I intend to, and want to encourage other city voters to vote only for Tim Butler for City Council. Those who wish Tim to win should not defeat their own efforts by adding to the vote totals of other candidates. Instead, “bullet vote” for Butler and no one else and give his fresh new voice a fighting chance…for a new Erie.

Our band of musicians and vocalists once again had the wonderful privilege to lead worship at the Edinboro site of McLane Church this weekend. We continued our series on the Old Testament on Nehemiah, as Bill Cox preached a message on confession.

We welcomed visiting Spanish River Church worship leader Ashley  Bowersox on vocals, who sang a stirring lead on “Amazed.”

We closed the service introducing the incredibly powerful song from Pastor Ross Parsley and New Life Worship titled “Overcome.” I get the feeling that this anthem will make a huge impact on our congregation.

Here’s the band:

• David Van Matre: Electric Guitar
• Brandt Fuller (Dir. of Worship): Acoustic Guitar/Vocals
• Brian Van Matre: Keyboards
• John Gersims: Drums
• Jared Leininger: Bass
• Ashley Bowersox: Vocals
• Joel Natalie: Worship Leader/Vocals

And the set:

• Let God Arise/Chris Tomlin
• Forever/Chris Tomlin
• Never Gonna Stop/Tommy Walker
• Amazed/Desperation Band
• Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)/Chris Tomlin
• Overcome/This Is My Story/New Life Worship\

This post is part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlist blog carnival.

It is always a privilege to lead worship at McLane Church, and the Edinboro congregation were engaged and were powerful participants in honoring God. Daryl Myer shared the third sermon in our series on Nehemiah, with a hard talk about opposition. It was a moving and exhausting weekend.

Thanks so much to the band:

• Andy Pamer: Electric Guitar/Vocals
• David Van Matre: Acoustic Guitar
• Brian Van Matre: Keyboards
• Peter Natalie (my bro): Drums
• Sherri Sullivan: Bass/Vocals
• Joel Natalie: Worship Leader/Vocals

Set list:

• All Because of Jesus/Casting Crowns
• All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises/Paul Baloche
• Here I Am to Worship/Tim Hughes
• Kindness/Chris Tomlin
• Revelation Song/Gateway Worship
• How Great is Our God/Chris Tomlin

Have a great week!

Note: I am participating in the “Sunday Setlists” blog carnival at FredMcKinnon.Com