thoughts

• i like Ed Young's book, Creative Marriage. written at a popular level, lots of applicational stuff and the Gospel is blam!blam! there in chapter 3 - good job Ed!
• i was anticipating this week with John Stott looking at Jesus' miracles but it's not meeting the expectations.
• i preach on Sunday night, aka SuperBowl night. i like the passage (ephesians 2.11-22) and am looking forward to it.
• my oldest has gone to school one day this week - what a bum! but what a brain! she's doing great and i hope she always thinks sharp.
• i wish i could fix/walk with people who've got problems but there's too many and i'm not sure they all want to be fixed.
• i (might have) cancelled a beloved ministry event, not sure what's gonna happen.
• i think SuperBowl 43 will be a great battle. Cardinals: really hot offense, solid defense. Steelers: good offense, awesome defense. Go snacks!

heart medicine

One book I read that wasn't on my 2008 list was Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It is excellent! Very challenging thoughts about God's crazy love for us and, is our love crazy for him? I sensed that I have slipped into a comfortable love; I'm asking him to make me crazy, obsessed.

Over the last few weeks I also realized a yucky thing about myself. I have been, too frequently, a tightwad/cheapskate with my own family. I can look back at times I've splurged on-the-moment for others, and yet I've told my own that we'll just have to wait. I don't wanna be stupid and get 'em whatever they desire but I don't wanna be stingy with my own family, that is stupid. I've got some debt I'd love to get rid of tonight but it'll happen even if it takes longer than I like. I can't let that goal make me a jerk either. And the big picture is this: God has always taken care of us, no matter how tightly or loosely we've spent/saved/scrimped/etc.

I'm still enjoying John Stott's Through the Bible, Through the Year. There are some readings and observations that get a second or third read from me. I appreciate that man.

I had some real cool (maybe crazy) thoughts about Samson but I haven't told any one yet.

This saying (I think I made it up) gets to me: "To be a better man, you'd better make better choices."

2008 books

There once was a list. A list of 9+ books that I wanted to read in 2008.
I finished 3:
Fields of Gold by Andy Stanley
The Reason for God by Tim Keller
Time for Truth by Os Guinness
I purchased 2:
Goldsworthy Trilogy by Graeme Goldsworthy
The Present Future by Reggie McNeal
I started another 1:
Creative Marriage by Ed Young

Obviously, I detoured a few times with books like It, Trinity & Triunity, various fiction pieces, The Pixar Touch and some others. But I'm getting back to the list because it's pretty balanced, at least I think so. Creative Marriage is next.

inaugural thoughts

First of all, Happy New Year to myself and my family. And I welcome me back to the blogosphere.

About the Inauguration:

- What a crowd! Had at least one good friend there. Followed her on twitter even though she didn't twit much.
- Nice prayer Rick Warren.
- Love the furry hat on 41.
- Nice speech by 44 but a little long.
- Nicer prayer Rev Lowery! A virtual rap-master!!
- Go America!