Good Times with Family

It's been somewhat of a challenge for me when I take a few days of vacation to truly put the deadlines and "things-to-do at work" list on the back burner. However, the Lord has been good in that I have a career that now allows me to do just that with some ease. So, I guess what I'm driving at is that it has been good to be with family and give THEM and the Lord my devoted attention. Along with good visits with family I battled my daughter and brother-in-law in that time tested game of Twister. I've also managed to come in second place in Train Wreck Dominos - I know you are impressed, and generally haul in a couple loads of back laundry, begin to paint my daughters room and other odd jobs. In fact, I just orderd a new heating element for my dryer (of which I've had twelve years). I'm trying to ward off a new laundry unit for a couple months if possible.

All that I'm sure sounds less romantic than say...going to NYC or Orlando or something. Yet, I find that in doing the mundane and just being with my family that I am perfectly satisfied. I'm sure Tony Dungy would give anything to be with his son James doing something boring like playing Dominos. So, I've relished these slower days and tried to practice the art and discipline of simply hangin' out with family. Good thing I love 'em so much and they love me!

By the way, I'm almost finished with Blue Like Jazz. Such a fun and really thought provoking book.

Good Times with Family

It's been somewhat of a challenge for me when I take a few days of vacation to truly put the deadlines and "things-to-do at work" list on the back burner. However, the Lord has been good in that I have a career that now allows me to do just that with some ease. So, I guess what I'm driving at is that it has been good to be with family and give THEM and the Lord my devoted attention. Along with good visits with family I battled my daughter and brother-in-law in that time tested game of Twister. I've also managed to come in second place in Train Wreck Dominos - I know you are impressed, and generally haul in a couple loads of back laundry, begin to paint my daughters room and other odd jobs. In fact, I just orderd a new heating element for my dryer (of which I've had twelve years). I'm trying to ward off a new laundry unit for a couple months if possible.

All that I'm sure sounds less romantic than say...going to NYC or Orlando or something. Yet, I find that in doing the mundane and just being with my family that I am perfectly satisfied. I'm sure Tony Dungy would give anything to be with his son James doing something boring like playing Dominos. So, I've relished these slower days and tried to practice the art and discipline of simply hangin' out with family. Good thing I love 'em so much and they love me!

By the way, I'm almost finished with Blue Like Jazz. Such a fun and really thought provoking book.

Thoughts of a Traveler During Advent

I'm a bit of a "Johnny-come-lately" I know, but in reading Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz I find myself thinking a few of the same thoughts I did when I read New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren. The thoughts of these men really do resonate and make sense to me. I wouldn't say I'm doing a 180 from all I've ever known of the structure of my Christian faith and now am soaring head long into emergent church thought, yet! the writings of these men have awakened in me a hunger for the "other" of God. Probably no different than Rudolf Otto or Bruegemann have done in me. Blue Like Jazz has helped me to see faith and church and grace and love in a very refreshing light. In fact the frankness of Miller is very, very refreshing. I know as a member of Gen. X it would seem I would like to continue in the sameness of some Christian praxis that has been handed down by a majority boomer generation, but in the case of Miller's thoughts I could honestly say that at times I wished I was a Millennial. I say that only to say that post-1980 kids grew up with a certain ability to identify authenticity and in some regards live authenticity. This is what I hunger for in my own faith circle at times. Well, Blue Like Jazz helps me, us, see that paradigms are meant to shift. Do I conclude the ways of the elders are wrong or misguided? No, but think if you will, on what it could mean to our faith and churches if we all came clean as Miller seems to be doing in Blue Like Jazz. Maybe the byproduct is a spiritual movement by which even the likes of a Joel Osteen would be amazed.

Finally, this Advent means to me the application of grace, peace, mercy, joy and love to my family and friends (yep enemies too) in even greater measure because even though I'm ughhh...hmm..30...hmmnn...huhggh 5! I have lived long enough to know that it truly is peace that rules out, it is love that reigns strong and it is mercy that needs to be shown...the shema in flesh, this is the Advent message to me.

As Mary, be thou unto me O Lord as You have said. Merry Christmas to all 4 of my readers.

Just Sorta Livin' Life

Lately I've sorta been livin' life to the max! At work I've been coordinating an effort to produce a promotional video for a product called The Quest. You can go to www.onthequest.org to learn more. So, with folks flying in to film and entertaining them and all, plus other items like preparing for future business trips have kept me busy.

Also, my terrific wife and I have been busy raising our kids and a few other kiddos in the neighborhood. Long story, but God has been kind to trust us with their occassional care. Then there's homework, baths, reading, devotional time, all that good stuff each evening. A couple of my friends are first time parents in these days and I'm excited to hear their stories of beginning parent adventures. Our parenting adventure is at a good stage with K-4 graders. Good times, but busy.

Christmas takes on new and fresh meaning for me this year. I wish I could say more now, but dinner calls so I'll blog it later.

Finally, I am thankful this year for the beautiful family I have and great work environment. My employer has been very gracious in Christmas time benefits and if any of those guys from the House are reading this you know we are blessed!

Pretty boring stuff I know but just livin' life right now is simply real good! Do you ever get that feeling?