The Year in Review

11/365

Jim Gray (Beaconhill NW) offered up a great list of introspective questions for closing out 2009.

I shared my answers on his blog (whether he was looking for that or not :-)) and thought I’d share them here as well.

1. What are the 2-3 themes that personally defined 2009 for me?
grace. patience. love wins.

2. What people, books, accomplishments, or special moments created highlights in 2009?
publishing my first novel in Dec., working through the foster care process to get certified as foster parents, our first cruise with friends in February and our second cruise with family in July

3. Give yourself a grade from 1-10 in the following areas of focus for 2009:
vocationally – 6
spiritually – 6
family – 6
relationally – 7
emotionally – 8
financially – 6 – this one always worries more than it probably should
physically – 7
recreationally – 6

4. What am i working on that is BIG?
I don’t know that anything I’m doing would be considered “BIG”. I’d like to think of the things I’m doing as small but having impacts on individuals – such as our podcast, my novel, laundry love, and our community groups.

5. As I move into 2010, is a majority of my energy being spent on things that drain me or things that energize me?
It’s a mixture. From 8-4:30 much of my time ends up spent on things that drain me. My evenings and weekends I try and focus on things that excite me but I’m also trying to re-prioritize some things and find more balance among the things that excite me.

6. How am I preparing for 10 years from now? 20 years from now?
Probably not very well. I’m more focused on the next 6 months than anything beyond that.

7. What 2-3 things have I been putting off that I need to execute on before the end of the year?
I hope to be doing some video/audio production work during my week off as well as some projects for our tribe – including building an online solution for tracking our “members” as well as preparing for some training for our community group facilitators.

What about you? How would you respond to these questions?

The Christmas fun begins

This weekend we got a head start on our Christmas festivities (besides the 3 or 4 office parties/lunches I’ve already been to) with two family parties.

Saturday night was the annual Turner-Medlin Christmas party – which I think has now become the Turner-Medlin-Blundell-Lattanzi party.

This was my third year to take part in the annual party and its always one of the highlights of the season.

Along with the Christmas festivities, we also use the occasion to celebrate our nephew Jake’s birthday – which is Dec. 21.

Jake blows out the Birthday candles
Continue reading The Christmas fun begins

Obama, Jesus, War & Peace

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. – Romans 12:20-21

I’ve been chewing on this idea of Obama winning the Nobel Prize for Peace since it was announced. It’s been interesting to read all the varied comments.

Especially when many conservatives were up in arms that he won it and then turned around and applauded his speech and his justification of war.

The Jesus Manifesto shares many of the thoughts that have been swirling around my head and I’ve yet to be able to put to paper – or keyboard.

So I encourage you to read his post and watch this video from Cornel West:

And consider this, did Jesus come to offer up a high-fetched dream that could never be lived up to? Or did he come as baby in a manger and the Prince of Peace to show us that living a life of love and non-violence could be achieved — and can be lived out — even in the face of the Empire?

One step closer

Texas Baptist Home bell

Laurie met with our foster care advocate from the Texas Baptist Home this morning.

She came for a pre-service visit of our house to be sure we have everything inline for our official home study. Laurie called and said everything checked out OK.

All we needed before our official visit from CPS is to purchase a pack-n-play and car seat to be prepared in case we get a call in the middle of the night saying there’s a child or two waiting for us to bring to our house.

So Laurie’s out doing some shopping and we’re crossing our fingers that CPS will come the week directly after Christmas for their visit. If everything works out we could be certified as foster parents by the first of the year.

In addition, Laurie’s just finished stripping, sanding and re-painting a dresser for the nursery. It’s a dresser that she had as a child and her mom did as well. That makes two dressers she’s redone for the room.

Lauries been hard at work

So we’re that much closer! Thanks for all your support and prayers!

Shrinking the globe

Yesterday, Thursday evening, 7:30 GMT (to be exact), two churches came together in Motherwell, Scotland for a singing of Christmas carols.

Calvary-Christian-Fellowshi

While this may seem like a small thing, it quickly became a great shared experience with friends half the world away.
Continue reading Shrinking the globe

Songs of Advent

Our homemade Advent wreath

I love that songs tell us so much about our faith, our story, our journey. They also tell us a lot about our communities. The songs communities sing are very telling about how the community sees one another, life, God, faith, community, etc.

While I believe Advent should be such a major part of our Christian life and story I’m struggling to come up with many Advent songs. Is it because of my own traditions, or is it because of our huge emphasis on Christmas Day itself?

Here’s the two I can think of right now…

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

As you can see, I’m struggling to come up with many.

What Advent songs can you think of?

What do you sing at this time of year?

Do you separate Advent from Christmas or are they one in the same?