Putting the X back into Xmas

I saw this on Bart Millard's Twitter Feed today:

The "X" in Xmas is from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of Χριστός, Christ in Greek.

I don't know how true this is, but Bart is a reputable minister and the lead singer for MercyMe, so I presume he wouldn't joke about Xmas.

Merry Xmas, everyone!

Caedmon's Call Concert - CORRECTION

Caedmon's Call will be in concert at my church this SUNDAY, September 28th, at 7PM. Ticket info is available here. Sorry, I had Saturday on the brain, but the concert is actually on Sunday.

Happy Easter!

He Is Risen!

Father and Son Project

My son's Cub Scout troop is having their Pine Wood Derby this weekend. This is an event where each scout purchases a "model car kit" that consists of a rectangular block of pine wood, 4 plastic wheels and 4 nails (to hold the wheels on.) The idea is that the scout (with the help of a parent) will work on carving, painting and decorating the block of wood into the shape of a car. The car must meet certain weight requirements and then is raced against other cars on a special track. Big fun.

When I was a child, I actually won a Pine Wood Derby during my first year as a cub scout. However, I recall that my Dad did almost all the work on the car. I watched him work with all the cool power tools and I only got to paint it. So, of course, I started out with the idea that Grant and I would work "together" on his car. After about 10 frustrating minutes with a block of petrified pine, I had already chiseled off to much and I found myself yelling and acting like a madman. I kicked everyone out of the garage, glued the screwed-up block back together and finished the project mostly by myself. It didn't go at all like I wanted it to. I wanted to create a different memory than I had as a kid, but instead of a least being a helpless spectator, I actually may have created a miserable memory for my son. Worse than what I was trying to avoid. Luckily, Jennifer salvaged some of the situation, by letting Grant paint the car and add some racing decals.

Ironically, this all happened last Sunday afternoon only hours after our Small Group discussed Romans 7 and how we often do exactly what we don't want to do. Too bad the hardest block of wood to make a dent in is apparently between my own 2 ears. I'm glad my Heavenly Father is more patient in molding me than I was last weekend.

"Sweet Jesus"

"Sweet Jesus" by Gary Chapman

Merry Christmas!

Ornaments on our Christmas Tree

Below are my kids, Grant and Blythe, with their cousins on Christmas Day.

Above: Grant (9)m Elizabeth (5), Jack (6 mos.), Amanda (3), and Blythe (7)

Good Friends and Bad Football

I had a chance to catch up with an old Nashville homey on Saturday night. My good friend and fellow musician, Shane Martin, drove down from Charlotte to join me for the USC vs. Florida football game. It was freezing, and the game was only briefly good, but it was great to catch up with a old friend.

Shane is one of the best guitar players and songwriters I've ever known. He toured with SheDaisy, was a staff writer for Sony Music Publishing, and has done some big-time session work for legends like Michael Omartian, Dennis Dearing, and Christian music pioneer David Huff. He is now the Director of Worship and Outreach for Uptown Christ Covenant Church in Charlotte.

Me and the giant head of Shane.

Mmmm, That Really IS Good Coffee....

I had a blast Tuesday filling up Rick's Blog with comments. Thanks, Rick.

The Tony Campolo in.Justice Tour

Tony Campolo's in.Justince Tour is coming to my church on November 18th (6:00pm to 8:30pm). It also features my good friend Wade Joye, leading Worship music, and Curt Cloninger (an Amazing One Man Theatre).

Tickets are $5 and seating is limited, so reserve your tickets online if you're interested in attending. You can book online here or call: 803-359-3495

Can't We All Just Get Along?

WARNING: I’m kind of on a soap box today, so go ahead and stop reading this if you’re not up for a controversial subject about religion and politics.


Yesterday a good friend of mine told me about a church youth event he and his son recently attended. He said it was this really fulfilling , spiritual weekend, however, on the ride home most of his traveling companions (including the Youth leader) got to talking about politics and began disparaging democrats, liberals, anti-war supporters, and Hilary for about 90 minutes.
Now, my friend is, pretty much, all of those things (well, he’s not Hilary, but he likes her just fine). He described comments that weren’t necessarily just conservative, Republican, or pro-war in nature, but were instead blatantly mean and derogatory of those who have different political views. (The idea that "any real Christian MUST be a conservative Republican or they're NOT really a Christian" is a sore spot for me, if you didn't already know.) My friend said this incident not only deflated what was otherwise a really spiritual weekend, but how he lost a lot of respect the youth leader. It was so crushing to him that he is now reconsidering going on a previously planned mission trip with the group next Summer. Worse, he is concerned with how this experience will affect his son’s attitude toward the Youth program and Youth leader. Now, I'm sure nobody intended to be hurtful or disrespectful, but I still found the whole account to be troubling.

I don't mean to pick on Republicans about this. Most of my friends are conservative Republicans and would never say anything intentionally hurtful. Also, many Democrats and liberals are just a guilty of this kind of polarization. But I keep thinking that, as Christians, we need to take a higher road and not get so dogmatic about political issues, and being "right", that we discourage other Christians. More so, we should never act un-Christlike towards anyone. Although my friend didn’t want to say anything about it, for fear it might offend him (I told you he was a liberal), I recommended that he talk to the Youth Leader and tell him how he felt so they could clear it up and heal/grow. They don’t have to agree about politics (and they probably won’t) but they DO need to clear the air and not let the offense fester.

Then this morning I read these verses in my morning devotional:

“Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every kind of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you.”

- Ephesians 4:29-32

Unto Him AJM

Aaron, James, and Matthew Warren are friends of mine whose band, Unto Him AJM, just launched a new website. I've played and recorded with these guys and they are top-notch musicians and sincere Christians. You can link to iTunes from their website and buy their songs if you're interested (I played bass on those tunes, so I highly recommend them.)

"Meet me in the Stairwell" by Stacey Randall

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say "Goodbye." I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK ... I am ready to go." I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said. "Of course I will show you the way home - only believe on Me now."

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was with the Firefighters, the Police Officers, the Emergency Workers. I was there, watching each brave step they took.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; "Come to Me...this way...take My hand." Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well.

Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are "ready to go." I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

Blast From The Past (Part 2)

Here's some more Legend Seven footage. This is "amature video" shot by my former Children at Heart bandmates, Gayle and Mike. It's from my first concert with Legend Seven, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee on August 27, 1994. It's the only concert for which I have any footage. This is one of only about a dozen headliner shows I did, as most of the gigs I got to play in were as the opening act for Whiteheart on their Highlands tour or part of a festival. I've uploaded more video clips from this show to YouTube. You can access them at http://www.youtube.com/gnicholson3 .

Children At Heart (more blast from the past)

Here's a bunch of really cheesy video's my old college band, Children At Heart, around the time we first formed in the late 80's. These were recorded by a Media Arts Class, at USC, as a class project, so the set and light might look a bit goofy. However, the clothing choices were our own selections. Believe it or not, we eventually got MUCH better (at music, not dressing) and moved to Nashville to pursue a full time rock-n-roll lifestyle.

Children At Heart (left to right):
Mike Vaugahn, Lead Vocals;
Paul Reaves, Guitar;
Greg Sheehan, Lead Guitar and BGVs;
Coley Mynatt, Drums and BGVs;
George Nicholson, Keyboards and BGVs;
Todd King, Bass (on video clips) later replaced by Gayle Godkin (pictured to the right);
and Danny Linney, Sound Technician (not pictured ... ever)

"I Will Rejoice"


"A Few Good Men"


"Armed and Ready"


"Strong & Courageous"

Session Work (part 2)

Unto Him (those guys for whom I recorded bass on their demo last week) got their final mastered tracks back from the studio. We recorded four tunes, but I'm only going to include one here. It's my favorite out of the four. It's called "We Lift Our Hands". Let me know what you think.

The Dilbert Blog

I ran across Scott Adam's Blog, The Dilbert Blog. I was looking for "funnies", but there were a few really interesting posts about religion that caught my eye. Check these out:

• http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/07/the-atheist-who.html
• http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/07/pascals-wager.html
• http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/08/poster-child-fo.html