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Here’s the bit about advent of Electronic Music in Cincy and entheos:
• Electronic music had its most mainstream-successful decade yet in the ’00s, and Cincinnati had plenty of quality “Electronica” to offer, from Hungry Lucy and Diet Audio to entheos, The Sleep and You, You’re Awesome.

entheos albums from 2004 & 2009
Our friends, Joanie Whittaker & Jason Erickson also got a nod:
• Local music has baby appeal! Even little kids could experience some quality local music in the ’00s, thanks to singer/songwriters like Zak Morgan (who even notched a Grammy nomination for his work in children’s music) and “Miss Joanie” Whittaker, plus the excellent compilation disc, Isn’t It a Wonder, featuring a solid cast of local “grown up” artists doing it for the kids.

Congrats, guys!

Pretty Sweet!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

It’s my gut feeling that folks of all colors, creeds and backgrounds long for something different during this season. There’s something about this time of year that gives us reason to pause and become more reflective. Christians and non-Christians alike get caught up in that Christmas spirit . . . it’s that feeling of a little tug in your heart that longs for something more, something true and beautiful and fresh and pure, a burst of light and hope.
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Truth be told, we long for that feeling in all seasons of life, but I guess the Christmas spirit becomes so infectious that in our humanity we find our own ways to create rituals that would fill this longing, like giving gifts and putting up decorations that shine and sparkle. But whether your Christmas is dysfunctional or like a Halmark commercial, these rituals never quite fill the void, do they?

What a wonderful thing it is that God would come to us in the very package which can fill the void: a new, beautiful, true and pure little baby, a burst of light and hope. Christ, the embodiment of love.

My Christmas wish and prayer is inspired by what Bob said: that we would all hear God telling us how much He loves us and that we would believe Him.

Listen, live, look around
Listen, live . . .
Taste life, feel the sound
Taste life . . .
Scent of life
Remember?
Scent of life . . .

Here’s what Cheryl, Jenn & Jim had to say about our senses and the Christmas spirit:
Cheryl: baking christmas cookies, listening to christmas music , enjoying my family.. the smell of evergreen
Jenn B: Made Christmas cards with my sister tonight, drank a little wine & yes….we were singing some Christmas songs!
Jim:Being with the kids and grandkids, the music, and above all, the Love of Christ, family and freinds.

Well, said, Cheryl, Jenn and Jim. Thanks for sharing!

Jenn:
-twinkly lights
-a toasty fire and red wine!
-Ella Fitzgerald singing holiday tunes & fuzzy socks too.
Ursula:
-Elvis Christmas CD
Joe:
Being home and seeing my friends and family right now would put me in the yuletide mood.
My town is well lit with lights and it is making me jonz for some family and warmth, good thing my father is on his way.
(Joe is out in New Mexico)
Amanda:
Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry christmas from the Family” (one of her favorite Christmas songs)
Elaine:
Charlie Brown Christmas cd

I’m with you Elaine! I love ‘Christmas Time is Here’. entheos does a cover of that one;)
Vince Guaraldi rocks!

It is amazing how Christmas music can unite people like no other kind of music. Everyone can lend their voice to the songs they’ve known since childhood. It makes sense that it would be this way . . . because bringing us together into His family is really what God wants most of all.