Christmas Scat

Yancy's "Fancy" Christmas review

One of my favorite things about traveling with the SuperStart team for three tours was the people that I worked with. Seriously, the people they have on stage and behind the scenes know preteens. They get these kids and understand just how to communicate the gospel in ways that stick.

During my final year on the SuperStart team, I was blessed with the opportunity to share the stage with a worship leader named Yancy. We share a common northeastern Oklahoma upbringing but only one of us qualifies as a talented musician. While I couldn’t wait to hear her new Christmas album I can't tell you I wasn't a little skeptical.

It’s nothing against Yancy. She is the real deal. It’s just that people are weird about Christmas songs. They are like Christmas movies I guess. If you are anything like me, you probably watch the same movies each holiday season. Each year you laugh at the same Chevy Chase jokes and cry when Santa shows up on 34th Street. I know a guy who writes out a schedule the day after Thanksgiving to make sure he is able to fit in every movie before the 25th. I’m not that strict. After all, do you really have to watch the Santa Clause 2 every year?

Here’s the problem. Your pickiness has made your Christmas music collection a little dusty. Fact: Your mom still listens to that one Amy Grant album where she is wearing the awesome Christmas sweater. She also still listens to the one where Amy is scratching her forehead on a tree. Fact: My mom still listens to the Mariah Carey Christmas CD from the 90’s. Confession: I still remember the first time I saw Mariah’s CD cover in 7th grade. So whatever your Christmas tradition, or umm… memory, I guess you could say that we’re set in our ways. We like routine, especially around the holidays.

Yet with this CD, Yancy is able to prove that tradition is overrated. While most of the songs are remake, you have never heard any of them like this. For example, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is one of my personal favorite Christmas songs. I have heard so many covers through the years that I thought it would be difficult to infuse any freshness in it. Yet Yancy makes it her own. Bottom line: it’s fresh, it’s catchy, and it’s Yancy. And it gives you an idea of what the rest of the collection feels like.

Other high notes include “Wonderful Christmastime”, which I confess I used to hate. It’s not that I don’t like Sir Paul. It’s just that I worked at the GAP one holiday season. It played in the store a lot… no seriously, a lot. Several years later, Yancy is able to breath new life into it. She probably wore fur while doing it. I rather enjoy that irony.

“Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas” is a great original. It gets better each time I listen to it. “The Greatest Gift” is solid. I could have done without the "Medley" however. It seems a little chaotic and unnecessary. It gets skipped each time it plays through. Ouch. I would have been much happier with another classic remake. In my opinion, that's the only miss on the CD. “Angels we have Heard on High” is an outstanding cover and a very original interpretation.

All that to say, it’s probably about time to put a fresh sound in your worn out Christmas play list. “Have a Fancy Yancy Christmas” is a great start. I hope you allow these songs to become the soundtrack of Christmas for years to come. If you do, you won’t be due for an upgrade for at least 15 years.

You can get it at Amazon, itunes, or yancynotnancy.com

Victoria Falls Bungee

I was hoping to get at least 15 years out of this story. Posting it on my blog for the world to see will probably knock 2-3 years out of its run. Regardless, here it is.

The bungee jumping at Victoria Falls is the highest natural jump spot in the world. It measures at 111 meters (364 feet, I think). That translates to a 4 second free fall. It's a long way down.

Two answers. Yes, I kept my eyes open the entire time. No, the worst part wasn't the fall. The worst part was hanging upside down until the guy on the rope (you'll see him at the end of the video) could repel down to get me.

If you are ever in Zambia at Victoria Falls. You have to do this. Trust me.

Zambia Trip - MacKenzie Primary School visit

Bedlam Highlights

An Open Letter to People who Celebrate Christmas before Thanksgiving

Dear People who Celebrate Christmas before Thanksgiving,

What’s your deal? Seriously Nostradamus, who gave you permission to rearrange the calendar? Last time I checked, November comes before December. That also means that Thanksgiving comes before Christmas. So you better get your facts, and holidays, straight.

You are probably thinking, “Why does he hate Christmas so much?” The truth is that I don’t hate Christmas. If anything, I love Christmas too much. I love decorating the tree. I like giving and receiving presents. I like miniature ceramic displays of 18th century England. But I also like order. I like things where they belong. It’s the same reason I don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in September. Socks go inside shoes. First comes love THEN comes marriage. Thanksgiving THEN Christmas. Not the other way around.

I recognize that the odds are stacked against you. Everyone from Abercrombie to Sears and Roebuck to the ghost of Sam Walton wants you to celebrate Christmas as early as possible. They figure that if you start celebrating in August, you’ll start buying gifts in August. That’s why there were Christmas trees up in Lowes the first week of October. That’s why Hollywood released Jim Carrey’s Christmas Carol movie in July. And that’s why you’re now wearing a Christmas sweater and listening to Mannheim Steamroller in 80 degree weather. It just seems a little forced.

Yes, the Christmas season is a magical time. Memories are made 'round the fire. Yuletide cheer abounds. We allow our children to sit on the laps of velvet-wearing, unemployed men and ask for wishes. But Christmas should be about quality, not quantity. You have to pace yourself. If you break out the tree in September, bake cookies in October, carol in November you have used up all of the good stuff Christmas-y things by Black Friday.

Which brings me to my next point; why does Thanksgiving have to get the shaft so you can listen to Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is you” on Veteran’s Day? Do you really think that the pilgrims fled from political and religious persecution so you could be so selfish? Yeah, that’s right. Celebrating Christmas in November is selfish. Besides, Thanksgiving is a good holiday. There’s turkey and parades and predictable yet inspirational sports movies. C'mon, slow down and enjoy this holiday before the liberals take it away!

Trust me, there is enough Christmas to go around. There is a season for everything. And I tend to believe that there is a pretty good season set aside just for Christmas. Take a breath. Let’s all be patient. Christmas will be there on the other side of Thanksgiving. There's no need for premature immaculate conception celebration. I’ll be putting up the tree November 29th. I hope you’ll join me.

Let’s keep Christ in Christmas… and keep Christmas in December.

Happy Holidays (in order),
Eric D. Epperson

OU - Kansas State highlight video